Today, modern agricultural methods are gaining popularity compared to traditional methods due to their efficiency and year-round crop production. 

Aeroponics and Hydroponics are two most popular modern agriculture techniques. These methods allow you to produce healthier crops without using soil. 

However, plants are dug in nutrient-rich water using hydroponics, whereas, in aeroponics, the roots are suspended in the air and are in more contact with oxygen.

Both these methods fall under vertical farming but are often misunderstood by people. To make it easy for you, we have discussed the differences between hydroponics and aeroponics in detail with their similarities.

What Is Hydroponic Method?

This is a technique in which we don’t grow the plants in soil. Instead, we use a nutrient-rich water solution. The essential components of this method are oxygen, fresh water, nutrients, light, and favourable weather conditions.

This allows you to grow your preferred plant despite the lack of a season, resulting in the growth of a wide variety of plants. You must regularly check the pH and other nutrients needed for particular growth. 

Hydroponic farming is best for growing plants such as Spanish, tomatoes, herbs, cucumbers, basil, and coriander. 

It serves multiple benefits, so let’s discuss.

Benefits Of Hydroponic Method

1. Less Water Consumption

Hydroponic farming is indeed done with water. However, it is also true that it requires less water than the regular farming technique. With hydroponics plants are grown by minimizing water wastage as the nutrition-rich water reaches directly to plants’ roots.  

2. Healthier Food Development

Plants are dug into a nutrition-rich water solution and kept in favorable conditions. No harmful chemicals are required, resulting in the growth of healthier food instead of food with chemical fertilizers.

3. Year-Round Production

Hydroponic technique can be done anytime of the year. It allows the farmers to maintain the continuous flow of food without waiting for a particular season.

4. Minimal Space Usage

Many farmers struggle because their land does not allow them to grow multiple crops at once. But this technique allows you to grow more plants in the same or lesser space. This way, they can use space to produce multiple crops in the same space.

Process Of Hydroponic Method

The hydroponic agriculture method works with different systems that allow plant growth. Set up the plants you have chosen to grow without soil and the pumps to apply nutrition-rich water solution to them. Also, the temperature, pH, lights, and nutrition level should be checked regularly for healthy crop production. 

Various hydroponic systems for better plant growth include a wick system, drip system, water flow, ebb and flow, nutrient film technique (NFT), and more. These systems provide plants with sustainable amounts of oxygen and nutrients for healthy growth. 

Therefore, this technique offers healthy plant growth with a steady food supply. This also increases the demand for hydroponic methods in rural and urban areas. 

Types Of Hydroponic Systems

There are various types of hydroponics systems that you can use that are:

1. Wick System

This is a hydroponics system in which electricity is not used. The plants are directly placed in absorbent substances like perlite and vermiculite. This system is ideal for garden plants and herbs as they don’t require sustainable water.

2. Deep-Water Culture System

In this system, plants are directly placed into a nutrient solution that helps plants to absorb nutrients in large amounts. When using this system, ensure the plant is secure using the proper net pot.

3. Ebb And Flow System

Home gardeners usually use this system, allowing the plants to grow in spacious beds filled with mediums like rock wool and perlite.

4. Nutrient-Film Technique System

This hydroponic system is found in the large reservoir where the nutrient solution is placed. Commercial growers use this system to grow plants on a large scale.

What Is Aeroponic Method?

Aeroponic farming is a process of growing plants in a mist environment. In other words, this method keeps plants in contact with air. Plants are hung in a semi-closed environment, and a nutrition-rich solution is sprayed into their roots and lower stems. 

This spray delivers the right amount of nutrition to the plant roots so that they absorb it for healthier growth. It is said that plants grown with an aeroponic system contain better nutrition value, texture, color and taste. 

Plants like eggplant, capsicum, green beans, herbs such as oregano, mint, edible flower marigold, and more are harvested in aeroponic agriculture. 

As mentioned below, you will get multiple benefits when using this method for plant growth.

Benefits Of Aeroponic Method

1. Promotes Faster Growth

Using the aeroponic system, roots are continuously in contact with required nutrients. This leads to faster plant growth without consuming unwanted resources. You only need to complete the aeroponic setup in your space without worrying about soil digging or dealing with weeds.

2. Almost No Water Consumption

This modern agriculture method allows you to grow plants without soil, so you don’t need water. Only water is used to spray the nutrition to plants’ roots to faster their growth.

3. Space Efficiency

An aeroponic system offers greater mobility, as plants or entire nurseries can easily move from one location to another. They take up less space compared to traditional farming.

4. Reduces The Use Of Pesticides

When plants grow in favorable conditions and get all the nutrients they need, they don’t require pesticides. This reduces the risk of pets and several diseases, making your use safer and healthier.

Process Of Aeroponic Method

The Aeroponics method nourishes plants with nutrition-rich mist. This mist is distributed in plants roots, making it healthier for use.

The seeds are planted in tiny pots in contact with lights and nutrients. Collar support is needed to place the stem as there is no root zone medium for support. Make sure that these collars are hard enough to hold the plant properly. 

You also need to add the timer with pre-programmed spray for the plants. This is to provide the right amount of nutrition to plants within specific intervals. Essential nutrients such as potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen are provided to plants that they easily digest. This nutrient directly goes to roots that promote healthy uptake and easy growth.

Aeroponic Systems

Aeroponics systems allow plants to grow in a closed environment with the goal of healthier plant growth. These are divided into two components that are- 

• The roots: Roots are structured to support a plant and its growth. 
• The canopy: Canopy is defined as the leaves and crown of plants that are higher than the structure. 

There is a chance that aeroponics systems sometimes fail, so farmers use hydroponic techniques as a backup.

Similarities Between Hydroponics And Aeroponics

With hydroponic and aeroponic methods, you need not worry about season change for your plant growth. These methods support year-round production and also promote the continuous growth of food.

1. Promotes Steady Food Growth

With hydroponic and aeroponic methods, you need not worry about season change for your plant growth. These methods support year-round production and also promote the continuous growth of food.

2. Soil-Free Cultivation

Both aeroponics and hydroponics methods allow soil-free plant production and provide essential nutrients directly to plants’ roots. 

Aeroponics supports the nutrients-rich mist reaching the roots, whereas hydroponics keeps the plants in nutrient-rich water for suitable growth.

3. Space Saving

These methods support indoor and outdoor production and do not require a larger space. They can be arranged vertically or horizontally within a small space. 

Both hydroponic and aeroponic methods require a controlled environment for healthier production.

4. Safer For Consumer

Both methods reduce the use of pesticides and other harmful chemicals involved in traditional farming. This makes the food more tasty and safe for the consumers. Also, these techniques can be used by anyone to grow crops based on their preference.

Both hydroponics and aeroponics methods follow vertical farming techniques. They are in high demand as they promote faster growth and are easier to set up. By understanding these similarities, anyone can arrange the setup of modern agriculture methods. 

Although these methods have a few things in common, they are different. To make a suitable choice between hydroponics and aeroponics method, you must know their growth rates, environmental benefits, and more. 

Here, we talk about factors that differentiate both methods.

Aeroponics Vs Hydroponics: Difference

Factors based on	Hydroponic	Aeroponic
Growing medium	Roots of plants are submerged in nutrient-rich solution for food production.	Plants roots are suspended in the air by getting the nutrient-rich mist.
Variety of system	It uses a solid growing medium, such as rockwool or peat wool, to hold the plants.	Plants are hung in the air with the help of a collar, small plug, or clay balls.
Nutrient absorption	In a hydroponic system, plants are kept in water to get suitable nutrients, increasing the risk of diseases.	Plants absorb more nutrients here as water and nutrients are distributed in different parts of plants. This reduces the risk of diseases.
Method	Hydroponics allow plants to grow in a container that has a nutrient-rich solution where roots are submerdge.	Plants are kept in a controlled environment, and mist provides nutrients. The solution is sprayed into the roots of the plants.
Water usage	The use of water is almost reduced compared to traditional methods. However, plants are kept in a water solution, which saves around 80% of water.	In aeroponics, water is not used. Only the water solution is sprayed on the roots of plants. This method can save around 95% of water.
Plant health	Plants grown using the hydroponics method have high humidity. This increases the chances of bacterial exposure.	Plants grow in very closed environments, meaning they have fewer chances of bacterial exposure.
Rate of growth	Plants grow two times faster than traditional methods. But is slower than the aeroponic method.	Plants’ roots are more in contact with oxygen as they are free, allowing them to grow faster.
Environmental benefits	It does not require any chemicals for plant growth but uses much nutrition compared to aeroponic.	It saves your water and nutrients and promotes easier plant growth.
System Maintenance	Hydroponic plants require regular checking of nutrients in water and humidity in the area to save plants from getting infected.	It requires regular temperature checks as plants are supposed to be kept in a closed environment. This prevents the roots from being exposed to bacteria.
Equipment used	You need a deep container to hold the nutrition solution for plant growth.	To create fine plant mist, it requires sprayers, misters, foggers, or other devices.
Application	Used in commercial environments and home gardening.	This method is used in research, commercial applications and environments where space is limited.

Is Aeroponics Better Than Hydroponics?

Both hydroponic and aeroponic are modern agriculture methods that become popular among farmers. With these, you can grow crops throughout the year and maintain a regular food flow.  

In aeroponics, you can even use the little space in your home to plant whatever you want. This method uses more oxygen, helping you grow the plant faster than the hydroponic method. 

You can select among hydroponics and aeroponics depending upon your level of expertise, budget and environmental goals. Both these methods promote soilless agriculture in future, allowing you to improve your plant health and minimize water waste.

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