What are the differences between hydroponic farming and other types of farming? Could hydroponic farming be used effectively on a large scale? Compare and contrast with typical farming and biodynamic farming
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The Professor wanted some of the information from the papers he provided below implemented into the FINAL PAPER. Again, using the sources correctly, including quoting, paraphrasing, and citing using the MLA format.
I will need this as soon as possible, I also have to find and print all the work cited articles (any suggestions would be geatly appreciated), also I do need the web sites for the aritcles that the writer used. All websites must be listed (this was in my work order). If the writer can furnish me with the scanned copies of actual articles I would be glad to pay extra for that also.
Information
1)ChenaFresh (Alaska) America’s northernmost commercial year-round
greenhouse at Chena Hot Springs Resort.
Chena Hot Springs Resort produces on-site hydroponic lettuce, tomatoes, herbs,
fodder (animal feed), and small fruits for the restaurant, employee meals
and livestock. More than 500 heads of lettuce a week, and annually
25,000 lbs of tomatoes, 275 tons of fodder, and 400 lbs of zucchini is produced
in the 6000 ft2 year-round controlled environment geothermally heated
greenhouse, 2178 ft2 high tunnel, and 192 ft2 fodder system.
Alaska’s dynamic weather provides unique climatic
challenges for any greenhouse operation. Short
summers offer long days (16-22 hours) of natural
light without a night period. Meanwhile, the
winter requires 100% crop lighting October till
March with minimal effective natural light.
2)DISCUSSION > Alaska’s Food Security and Sustainability Problems
An outstanding opportunity exists today for us to be the leaders on the ground who will provide solutions to our communiy’s future in food chain sustainability.
Our current food supply systems do not meet the challenge of providing food security and sustainability to our state.
Records indicate only 1.3% of the annual dollars spent feeding our families come from locally grown product from Alaska.
By increasing our local food production we can provide all Alaskans the following:
* Improve health
* Increase local food security (not being dependent on nutrition from 2,500 + miles away.)
* Strengthen our economy from the “Farm to the Table” with new jobs in agriculture, processing facilities and marketing.
* Reduce prices of local produce over time
Not only does our commitment need to focus on the overall market place, but it is important that families reconnect with where their food comes from. By viewing the ground you own(rent) maximizing your space for meeting your needs, you too can make a difference. Community gardens and co-ops are also vital for those less fortunate who are in need of quality food high in nutritional content, but are not able to afford “Living food.”
3)What is hydroponics?
The word, Hydroponic, comes from Latin and means working water. Simply put, it is the art of growing plants without soil.
4)http://www.bchydroponics.com/historyofhydroponics.html
History of Hydroponics
The history of hydroponics dates back to ancient times. The term “hydroponics” comes from two Greek words: “Hydro,” which means water and “ponos,” which means labor.
Together, the two terms mean “working water.” The practice refers to methods of growing plants with nutrient solutions. It implies a form of agriculture which does not utilize soil.
There are two ways through which soil-free plant growth is achieved. The first is through the use of a mineral nutrient solution only. The second includes a medium other than soil to offer support for the root system. Such mediums include gravel, mineral wool, and perlite.
These practices have developed greatly in recent history. This is a result of better understanding of plant needs as well as growing technology. Although the practice is now in vogue, the history of hydroponics is thought to extend back to Ancient Egypt.
Of course, a lot of the records dated back to such times are not viewed as reliable. However, experiments related to plant nutrition are known to have been undertaken by Theophrastus. This was a successor of Aristotle who lived from 372 to 287 B.C.
The earliest published work related to soil-free plant cultivation is attributed to Sir Francis Bacon. This was the book Sylva Sylvarum, published in 1627. This was a major influence on the growing popularity of water culture.
It was from the mid to late 1800s that the possibilities of mineral nutrient solutions were first studied. The use of such solutions quickly became a standard in the history of hydroponics. In fact, it is still widely used today.
5) http://www.growingedge.com/basics/tutorial/01_history.html
History of Hydroponics
Hydroponics basically means working water (“hydro” means “water” and “ponos” means “labor”). Many different civilizations have utilized hydroponic growing techniques throughout history. As noted in Hydroponic Food Production (Fifth Edition, Woodbridge Press, 1997, page 23) by Howard M. Resh: “The hanging gardens of Babylon, the floating gardens of the Aztecs of Mexico and those of the Chinese are examples of ‘Hydroponic’ culture. Egyptian hieroglyphic records dating back several hundred years B.C. describe the growing of plants in water.” Hydroponics is hardly a new method of growing plants. However, giant strides have been made over the years in this innovative area of agriculture.
Throughout the last century, scientists and horticulturists experimented with different methods of hydroponics. One of the potential applications of hydroponics that drove research was for growing fresh produce in nonarable areas of the world. It is a simple fact that some people cannot grow in the soil in their area (if there is even any soil at all). This application of hydroponics was tested during World War II. Troops stationed on nonarable islands in the Pacific were supplied with fresh produce grown in locally established hydroponic systems. Later in the century, hydroponics was integrated into the space program. As NASA considered the practicalities of locating a society on another plant or the Earth’s moon, hydroponics easily fit into their sustainability plans. This research is ongoing.
But by the 1970s, it wasn’t just scientists and analysts who were involved in hydroponics. Traditional farmers and eager hobbyists began to be attracted to the virtues of hydroponic growing. A few of the positive aspects of hydroponics include:
• The ability to produce higher yields than traditional, soil-based agriculture
• Allowing food to be grown and consumed in areas of the world that cannot support crops in the soil
• Eliminating the need for massive pesticide use (considering most pests live in the soil), effectively making our air, water, soil, and food cleaner
