A review on soilless cultivation: The hope of urban agriculture

• Published in: Archives of Agriculture and Environmental Science
• Main Authors: Joshi, Dipesh, Nainabasti, Anjal, Bhandari, Rita, Awasthi, Prakash, Banjade, Dinanath, Malla, Santoshi, Subedi, Bishesh
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Agriculture and Environmental Science Academy, Haridwar, India 2022
• Subjects: Aeroponic; Aquaponics; Hydroponics; Soilless Agriculture; Arctic
• Online Access: https://journals.aesacademy.org/index.php/aaes/article/view/07-03-022; https://doi.org/10.26832/24566632.2022.0703022

The cultivation of plants without using soil as a rooting medium is known as soilless farming. Depending on the requirement and type of crop, there are several soilless systems, including hydroponic, aeroponic, vertical farming, and others. The rate at which megacities are growing is worrying. As a result, urban agriculture needs to undergo a revolution in order to address the problem of food scarcity and hunger. These significant quantitative and qualitative food concerns can be solved by soilless farming in urban environments. In greenhouses and tunnels, about 3.5% of the world's crops are produced utilizing soilless, hydroponic farming methods. People who reside in deserts, the arctic, and other difficult-to-farm places can build up hydroponic farms. Since there is no soil, there are fewer insects and weeds. Vegetables, fruits, flowers, and medicinal plants are among the crops grown in soilless or hydroponic systems. Growth media is used in soilless culture methods in place of soil. As growth media, inorganic or organic substrates (barks, coconut coir, coconut soil, fleece, marc, peat) are used. Aquaponics in Nepal has a promising future because it is still in its early phases and is expected to thrive and expand well. As a result, a variety of crops are produced year, increasing income. Soilless cultures are thought of as a recently found approach to agricultural development, yet they are extremely difficult to put into practice.