Definition:
Hydroponics involves growing plants in nutrient-rich water, either with or without the use of a mechanical support system like sand, gravel, or perlite.
1. Hydroponics, derived from the Greek words “hudor” (water) and “ponos” (work), is a technique where plants are cultivated without soil, receiving essential nutrients through a water-based medium. This involves creating a nutrient solution by dissolving specific salts of micronutrients and macronutrients in precise quantities, with plant roots suspended in this liquid medium with appropriate support.
2. Hydroponics serves as a valuable method for studying deficiency symptoms in plants by deliberately excluding specific nutrients from the nutrient medium. This allows researchers to observe variations in plant growth and identify visual changes, such as yellowing of leaves or chlorosis, providing insights into the crucial role of each nutrient in sustaining normal plant structure and function.