What is Aeroponic, Benefits and its types and role in Agriculture Field?

Title:

What is Aeroponic, its Benefits and its types and role in Agriculture Field?

Introduction:

                            Here, I will explore the new and advanced technology for the cultivation of crops instead of conventional irrigation systems. I will elaborate on how and why this technology is becoming popular in the world instead of PIS systems. I will demonstrate to you how this technology can become an advancement in Agriculture in Pakistan and play its role in the increase of the production of crops. This technology is named Aeroponic, derived from the Latin words Aero means Air, and Ponic means Labor/ Work. It is considered the form of hydroponic farming and vertical farming. It is a better solution for farming in those places where small space is available for the cultivation of crops. 

What is Aeroponic:

                     Aeroponic is a superior method of cultivation of crops in terms of less space and time requirement, better and more production of crops, excellent aeration and water resources, disease-free plantation, and climatic/ seasonal independence. In this farming farmer or producer completely controls the nutrient of the root zone precisely the water regime of plant and environmental conditions. He has complete access to the root zone throughout the life of the plant. Aeroponic farming is successful farming for the commercial level for microgreen crops, successful propagation, seed germination, tomato seed propagation, potato production, and leafy crops. It is a feasible method for the production of crops in both cases aerial parts and roots.

                    Due to the world's increased population, food and land are required. So, at this moment due to increased population, the production of crops is significant. So, Aeroponic is a fantastic and excellent option especially in a developing country because primary traditional methods of cultivation of crops become expensive and have taken a long time for cultivation. This method of Aeroponic is an advanced and best solution in the consideration of food risk. In this era, due to the increase in population more requirements for food in Pakistan and the world. Aeroponic is the best option for us, we cultivate disease-independent crops and get more production and control the deficiency of food and land. 

Invention of Aeroponic:

                      This method began in the 1920s and progressed slowly step by step because it is a soilless growing method. Before the economical used and feasible method of production of crops, it was used as a research tool in the 1940s. In 1942, the first time W. Carter researched the growing method of plants in air culture and explained the method/way of the use of water vapor at the roots of plants for the provision of nutrients for the examination of roots. In the year of 1983, the first commercial aeroponic method of cultivation of crops was developed, this machine named Genesis Rooting System was developed by GTi In the 1990s during the research of NASA on the earth and space for the production of biomass with no soil and little water then this method proved to be productive and an efficient. Aeroponic gives 80% more production of necessary minerals or dry weight biomass as compared to the use of Hydroponic according to the research by NASA.

Different Types of Aeroponic:

                            There are different types of Aeroponic that are used for the production and cultivation of the crops instead of conventional and PIS methods of cultivation of crops.

1. Low-Pressure Devices:

                                        Low-pressure aeroponic units or gardens in which roots of plants are suspended in the reservoir of nutrient solution or channel which is inside the nutrient solution and connected the channel with a reservoir. The nutrient solution is delivered to the reservoir by a low-pressure jet pump or by ultrasonic transducers. Low-pressure devices are unable to purify the nutrients solution and remove the unwanted things, debris and pathogens because of cost and money. These units are suitable for growing top bench growing.

2. High-Pressure Devices:

                            High-pressure aeroponic units are used for the cultivation of high-value crops. In these devices or units of high-pressure mist is created through high-pressure pumps. These high-pressure devices are used for the purification of water and air, sterilization, and delivery of high-pressurized nutrient solutions for the growth of crops.

3. Commercial System Units:

                                     The commercial system units are used for the cultivation of high-value crops in which high pressurized devices hardware and biological systems. In the maturation of crops and extension of plant life air, enhancement is included in the biological system.

Working of Aeroponic:

                                        Aeroponic is the process that is endless in a confined and limited space and cut down the need for labor in agriculture. This process of cultivation of vegetables or crops whose roots and not inserted in the soil for substratum etc. In this system, roots are inserted into the reservoir of the flowing nutrient solution. If we consider the basic principle of the Aeroponic method of cultivation of crops in which growing plants are suspended or dipped in the closed and semi-closed environment by spraying the dangling roots of plants and lower stems of plants which are automized with the solution of rich nutrients. If converse about the setup of Aeroponic includes the monitoring and controlling system of the distribution of water and nutrients solution for the utilization of the cultivation of crops of aeroponic. For the distribution system, there is a system of pipe, spray, nozzles, pump, and a timer for the distribution of spray from the tank of nutrient solution required. The small micro jet sprayer is used for the spray of fine mist and high pressure from a nutrient solution to the rooting chamber. Used of programmable cyclic time that triggers the high pressurized pump to go on and then the nutrients are mixed in water in the reservoir basic and then filtered and pumped into the pressurized holding tank that is misted intermediately in the root chamber.

                         Developed root hairs help in the absorbance of nutrients through roots from the moisture. In this method, all administration is easier because of working through the rooting chamber. The transfer of nutrients to the plants through the root system is efficient and a small amount of wastage of nutrients is due to micron size. The root rot is completely avoided due to the supply of an ample amount of oxygen. The process of misting is done every few minutes in the rooting chamber around the hanging roots and the system is turned on after 2-3 minutes for a few seconds. Roots are exposed to the air due to the interruption of the misting cycle. A timer controls the cycling of the nutrient pump, Aeroponic has a short cycle timing than hydroponic. The material of the chamber must be lighter from everywhere because roots are working well in darkness and inhibit the algal growth that pollutes the system. 

                      Nutrient mist droplet is a crucial element of the aeroponic system. If the size of the droplet is oversize it may reduce the oxygen supply. An undesirable size of droplet prevents the lateral growth of roots due to stimulation of root hairs which influences the cultivation of crops through the aeroponic method. The size of the water droplet might be big enough for the carrying of nutrients to the root system of plants. And small enough drops, not either precipitation while drained back through pump into reservoir. There is minimal contact between the plants and supportive structure in aeroponic due to the growth of plants unconstrained. The aeroponic method is easier for monitoring pH and nutrients. 

Benefits of Aeroponic:

• Due to maximum access to roots plants grow fastly through an aeroponic system of cultivation.
• Some plants can be grown in controlled environmental conditions for a year without depending on the environment or weather.
• The need for nutrients and water for the plants to grow is less in an aeroponic system.
• This method of cultivation is easier to monitor. All things are in the root chamber so need to monitor only the rooting chamber and regulate the disinfecting of plants and roots.
• In aeroponic plants growing in vertical farming, it takes up much less space than traditional farming of crops.
• In aeroponic roots don’t stretch or wilt. It grows properly because proper space is provided for the growth of the roots of plants.
• The plants and roots growth system is convenient for students and researchers to learn in the laboratory.
• Through an aeroponic method of cultivation plants of fruits grow easily at zero gravity areas, especially at Moon Station.
• Through aeroponic healthier and nutritious plants grow in homes, offices indoors, and at the tops of houses and buildings.
• If we converse about the use of pesticides an aeroponic method can reduce the usage of 100% pesticides.
• This method of cultivation can reduce the usage of water by 98% and fertilizer for the growth of plants by only 60% and increase and maximize the yield of crops.
• After the development of roots does not require transplantation shock to the plants for transfer to another place.
• The reduction of diseases and infections in the plants increases due to this system of cultivation of the plants.
• Fruits are easily harvested due to the aeroponic method of cultivation.

Drawbacks of Aeroponic:

• The aeroponic system of cultivation is developed with a high pressurized pump, sprinkler, and timer, if any one of these breaks down then your crop and plant can easily damage and kill. All plants' growth depends on the system.
• For this method of plant growth, technical knowledge is required. The growth of plants through aeroponic is required some know-how about nutrient distribution because in which no soil is found for the absorbance of excess nutrients.
• The aeroponic system is very expensive.
• If power losses for a long time then it can create irreversible damage to plants.
• For the growth of plants, an aeroponic system needs to disinfect the root chamber through disinfectors like hydrogen peroxide and others. Require to save the crops from diseases.

Final Verdicts:

                         The final result of this aeroponic system of cultivation is the best solution for the growth of plants, especially in Pakistan. We know water is a very precious resource and has an efficient effect on all economies of the world. It plays a significant role in the economy. 70 percent of water is used in the world for agriculture by humans. From this 45% of water is consumed and wasted due to conventional systems of irrigation especially (surface irrigation). While an aeroponic system of cultivation is the premium and best solution that saves 98% of water resources. It doesn’t save water while it produces the yield of crops without diseases. Fresh, clean, and healthy production of food can be attained through the aeroponic system because due to an aeroponic we produce fewer infectious plants and crops. Through an aeroponic system of cultivation, we get the maximum yield of crops instead of conventional systems. The aeroponic system plays an important role in the maximum production of crops because of no use of pesticides, insecticides, and any artificial Harmons. After the enhancement of the growth of crops through this method of cultivation Pakistan can become a top grower of agriculture and crops in the world and can cover all the issues of the economy after the export of crops all over the world. This method is very efficient for the growth of plants in arid regions because the method does not require any soil for the production of crops. We can use this method of cultivation in indoor buildings and apartments. We can promote this method of cultivation in Pakistan for the growth of plants especially fruits because no soil and water is required for this cultivation crops method. It takes less space and grows rapidly instead of the conventional method of cultivation of crops.