Methodology of Hydroponics Applications with INSUboard- XPS
(Extruded Polystyrene Thermal Insulation Boards)
Hydroponics is a subset of hydroculture and is a method of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions, in water, without soil. Terrestrial plants may be grown with their roots in the mineral nutrient solution only or in an inert medium.
Plants absorb essential mineral nutrients as inorganic ions in water. In natural conditions, soil acts as a mineral nutrient reservoir but the soil itself is not essential to plant growth. When the mineral nutrients in the soil dissolve in water, plant roots are able to absorb them. When the required mineral nutrients are introduced into a plant's water supply artificially, soil is no longer required for the plant to thrive. Almost any terrestrial plant will grow with hydroponics.
Plants absorb essential mineral nutrients as inorganic ions in water. In natural conditions, soil acts as a mineral nutrient reservoir but the soil itself is not essential to plant growth. When the mineral nutrients in the soil dissolve in water, plant roots are able to absorb them. When the required mineral nutrients are introduced into a plant's water supply artificially, soil is no longer required for the plant to thrive. Almost any terrestrial plant will grow with hydroponics.
Advantages
Some of the reasons why hydroponics is being adapted around the world for food production are the following: |
Techniques
The two main types of hydroponics are solution culture and medium culture. |
Substrates
One of the most obvious decisions hydroponic farmers have to make is which medium they should use. Different media are appropriate for different growing techniques - Expanded clay aggregate, Growstones, Coir, Rice Hulls, Perlite, Pumice, Vermiculite, Sand, Gravel, Wood Fibre, Rock Wool, Sheep Wool, Polystyrene etc. |
Nutrient solutions
Plant nutrients used in hydroponics are dissolved in the water and are mostly in inorganic and ionic form. Primary among the dissolved cations (positively charged ions) are Ca2+ (calcium), Mg2+(magnesium), and K+(potassium); the major nutrient anions in nutrient solutions are NO− (nitrate), SO2− (sulfate), and H2PO− (dihydrogen phosphate). |
Advantages of using INSUBOARD - XPS Boards compare to EPS Boards
EPS boards can become water-logged and covered with algae, but this doesn’t happen with XPS boards. |