Hydroponics plant cultivation

Abstract

Hidroponija je inovativna metoda uzgoja biljaka u hranjivoj otopini (bogatoj nutrijentima odnosno anorganskim ionima neophodnim za život biljaka) sa ili bez krutih medija u zaštićenom prostoru, plasteniku ili stakleniku. Hidroponski uzgoj biljaka omogućava uzgoj biljaka cijele godine na površinama na kojima uvjeti nisu pogodni, na tlima smanjene plodnosti te u uvjetima kada je proizvodnja limitirana veličinom površine ili nepovoljnim fizikalno-kemijsko-biološkim svojstvima tla. Prednosti hidroponskog uzgoja ogledaju se i kroz visok intenzitet proizvodnje i stabilan prinos po jedinici površine, te kroz smanjenu potrošnju vode, hraniva i zaštitnih sredstava, ranije dozrijevanje plodova te smanjenu pojavu stresa kod biljaka zbog optimalnih uvjeta rasta i razvoja. Nedostaci hidroponskog uzgoja su visoka cijena početnog ulaganja, nužnost visoke razine znanja, cjelodnevni nadzor i u slučaju bolesti – brzo širenje vodom. Ključne riječi: hidroponski uzgoj, hranjiva otopina, prednosti, nedostatciHydroponics is an innovative method of growing plants in a nutrient solution (rich in inorganic ions essential for plant growth) with or without solid medium in a closed environment, like as a greenhouse. Hydroponic plant growing enables growing plants throughout the whole year in areas with unfavourable conditions, in soils with low fertility and in conditions where production is limited by the size of the agricultural land or by unfavourable physical-chemical-biological properties of the soil. Advantages of hydroponic growing are high production intensity and yield stability per unit area, reduced consumption of water, nutrients and pesticides, faster fruit ripening and plants experiencing less stress due to optimal growth conditions. Disadvantages of hydroponic growing are high initial investment costs, need to have expert knowledge, all-day-round monitoring and, in case of a plant disease, rapid spread by water