Springer, 2018. — 50 p. — ISBN: 978-3-319-99201-3.
As a hydroponic farmer at the age of 25, hydroponics was intriguing to me. It appeared as a new era in food production. Trees no longer had to be cut down, men no longer needed to spend countless of hours in the boiling sun, soil-borne diseases were not a problem, the use of pesticides were no longer a major priority, and weather disturbances posed no more threat. This was the best environment for a better tomorrow. There were many ups and downs, many crop losses at first, and many unanswered questions. However, I had no knowledge of this practice, so everything for me was a test run. But once I eliminated a problem, I was happy because now I was becoming closer to the perfect production system.
Hydroponics is not as difficult and costly as advertised. It is actually a very simple process which requires all fields of expertise. Agriculturalist, farmers, scientist, and engineers are the main people required to run an efficient system. Hydroponics is the most efficient way of production for a sustainable market in the future. It can address numerous of the countless challenges we face on a daily basis in food production. It is suitable for all varieties and classes of fruits and vegetables as hydroponics is categorized in many different aspects. It is the most adaptable system for a fast paced, ever-growing world.
People who venture into hydroponics have realized its benefits and potential for both small- and large-scale practices. My advice to all those interested in this practice is to conduct proper research at first and after start off with a small and simple system that is manageable by only
one person. It is good to get advice, but be careful as many people and companies are just trying to market the materials and equipment required. It is however much simpler than that. A hydroponic system can be set up with zero dollars to the use of millions of dollars. It all depends on you as the individual and your design. In this book, I will introduce you to some of the simplest forms to the most sophisticated
forms.