There’s so much good that hydroponic growing has on the environment.
Hydroponic growing has several advantages. Rather than having plants absorb nutrients through the soil, hydroponics are fed directly to the plants. Also, the system itself provides benefits to the planet, which conventional farming cannot reciprocate. There’s so much good that hydroponic growing has on the environment.
Less Land Required
Less land is needed to grow plants than conventional farming methods. More traditional farming requires you to plant crops in soil, which can take a lot of space. Unfortunately, there is only so much suitable space you can use to grow crops.
Hydroponic growing usually takes up ⅕ of the land that traditional farming methods would demand for the same number of plants. This is because grow pots used for hydroponics can be placed near each other without disrupting the growth process of the plants. Plants can even be placed in midair to save additional space. Multiple frames with the right plumbing can also be used. All of this combined means you get a lot of mileage out of a small space using hydroponic growing.
Less Fossil Fuel Use Because Of Flexible Growing Locations
Using fossil fuels is not beneficial to the environment, and when we used them to distribute food to markets, it hurts the planet. Fortunately, hydroponic growers can establish their greenhouses closer to the local markets where they distribute their crops. This lowers the amount of fossil fuel needed to get the food where it needs to go. One hydroponic grower may not sound like much, but when many growers come together, it can do a world of good for the planet.
Using Less Water
Water consumption is always on the brain when cultivating plants. All crops need water, but with traditional methods, the soil absorbs the water, and any excess water sinks past the roots. This means we have to keep providing water to keep our plants alive.
Using hydroponic growing methods, there is a nutrient reservoir. It either circulates the water or feeds it directly to the crops. Most of the water can be retained for days or even weeks. Most hydroponic systems require you to add nutrients to the water, but you don’t have to keep adding water to the system. Hydroponic growing only uses about 10% of the water that traditional methods with soil use! Think of all the water we save!
Could Be Better For The Earth And Soil
Conventional farming is susceptible to soil erosion. The amount of suitable farmland for commercial agriculture has been on the decline for decades. We are losing land so much that we are touching nature’s forests for the sake of feeding our ever-growing human populace.
Hydroponic growing uses far less land. It also doesn’t require soil, meaning it can be done even in harsh climates.
Reducing Pesticide & Herbicide Use
Conventional farming uses pesticides and herbicides. Herbicides kill off unwanted plants, and pesticides deal with pesky insects. However, these both harm the environment. Pesticides can get swept off by rain and infect nearby environments, and poison other animals besides the insects you wanted to remove.
Hydroponic growing has no weed growth since it takes time for the plants to grow to hydroponic grow medium. This means herbicides aren’t needed. Pesticides aren’t needed as much either because crops are shielded by closed greenhouses usually, which fend off insects.
Baywater Farms Has The Right Produce For You
Baywater Farms is a family-owned and operated farm servicing Baltimore, Washington D.C., Maryland, Delaware beaches, and the Eastern Shore. We are capable of meeting the demands of your produce distributor, restaurant produce supplier, CSA produce supplier, or wholesale produce supplier while maintaining the integrity and character of a small farm. When you work with Baywater Farms, you work with an experienced, ethical, and local farm dedicated to providing the highest-quality heirloom produce possible.
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