The term hydroponics is derived from the Greek hydro meaning water and ponos meaningful employment. Hydroponics is a term used to describe how to grow crops without soil but using water or other porous materials with controlled nutrient delivery which contains essential elements that plants need. Was first raised by W.A. Setchell of the University of California, in connection with the success WF Gericke from the same university, in the development of farming techniques with water as the planting medium.

Advantages and Disadvantages Hydroponics System

Hydroponics Advantages:
1. Higher crop production compared to using normal soil planting medium.
2. More guaranteed freedom from plant pests and diseases.
3. Plants grow faster and more efficient use of fertilizer.
4. If there are plants that die, the bias is replaced with easily a new plant.
5. Plants will provide results that Continue
6. Working methods that have been standardized, further facilitates the work and do not require harsh labor.
7. Plants can be grown in places that should not be suitable for the plant concerned.

Hydroponics Disadvantages:
1. Nutrient solution must be balanced,
2. The treatment is quite expensive,
3. Only certain specific plants.

Based Growing Media used, hydroponics can be divided into three kinds, namely:

1. Water Culture
This technique has long been known, namely since the middle of the 15th century by the Aztecs. In this method plants are grown on certain media at the bottom there is a solution containing macro and micro nutrients, plant roots so that the tip will touch the solution containing these nutrients.

2. Aggregate Cultures
Planting medium gravel, sand, charcoal, rice husk, and others who should be sterilized before use. Provision of nutrients by way of irrigating the planting medium, or by setting up a nutrient solution in a tank or drum, and then flowed into the plant through a plastic hose.

3. Nutrient Film Technique
In this way the plant is maintained in the long ditch narrow, thin metal plate made of stainless. In the channel flowing water containing nutrient solution. Then around the roots will be formed film (thin layer) as a food crop.

Important Factors in Hydroponics Cultivation

1. The Element of Hara

Giving regular nutrient solution in hydroponics is very important, because the media only serves as the support of plants and facilities continue excessive condensation or water.

Nutrients available to plants at (pH 5.5 – 7.5) but the best is 6.5, because in this condition in a state of nutrients available to plants. Macro nutrients needed in large numbers and relatively high concentration in solution. Included are the macro nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and S). Micro nutrients required only in low concentrations, which include elements (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, B, Mo, and Cl). Crop nutrient needs will vary by level and type of plant growth (Jones, 1991).

Nutrient solution was prepared by dissolving the fertilizer salts in the water. Various types of fertilizer salts can be used for nutrient solution, their selection is usually on price and solubility of fertilizer salts.

2. Media

Type of planting medium used affects plant growth and development. Good media makes nutrients remain available, guaranteed moisture and good drainage. The medium used must be able to provide water, nutrients and oxygen and does not contain substances that are toxic to plants.

The materials used as growing media in hydroponics include sand, gravel, broken bricks, charcoal, husk, sponge, and so forth. The materials used as growing medium will affect the nature of the media environment. The level of temperature, aeration and moisture media will vary between one medium with another medium, in accordance with the materials used as media.

Rice husk is a black husk fuel produced from incomplete combustion, and has been widely used commercially as growing media in hydroponics systems.
The composition of rice husk at most be occupied by the (SiO2) is 52% and (C) by 31%. Other components are (Fe2O3, K2O, MgO, CaO, MnO, and Cu) in a relatively small amount as well as organic materials. Another characteristic is very lightweight, rugged air circulation so high because many pores, high water holding capacity, color black to absorb sunlight effectively, high pH (5.8 – 9.0), and can eliminate the influence of particular bacterial diseases and weeds.

3. Oxygen

The presence of oxygen in hydroponics systems is very important. Low oxygen caused decreased cell membrane permeability, so that the cell wall more difficult to penetrate, the plant will result from water shortage. This may explain why the plants will wilt in a flooded soil conditions.
The level of oxygen in the pores of the media affect root hair development. Giving oxygen can be done in various ways, such as: providing air bubbles in the solution (water culture), the replacement of nutrient solution over and over, wash or fumigate the exposed roots in nutrient solution and provide the ventilation slots on the investment to aggregate culture .

4. Water

Water quality in accordance with plant growth in hydroponics have salinity levels that do not exceed 2500 ppm, or have a value of not more than 6.0 EC mmhos / cm and contains no heavy metals in large quantities because it can poison plants.

Advantages and Constraints Hydroponics

Some of the advantages of hydroponics farming in crop production unity is more extensive, the plants grow faster, more efficient fertilizer use, water consumption more efficient, labor which is fewer needed, cleaner working environment, control of water, nutrients and pH more closely, the problem pests and plant diseases can be reduced and can grow plants in a location that is not possible / difficult to grow in an environment such as nutrient-poor soil and rocky terrain or in the garage (in another room) with extra lights. While the drawback is the availability and maintenance hydroponics device is rather difficult, requiring special skills to weigh and mix chemicals as well as an expensive initial investment.

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