RECENT ADVANCES IN HYDROPONICS PRODUCTION OF HORTICULTURAL CROPS: A REVIEW

Abstract

Horticulture is a fast growing major sector of the agricultural industry in most developing countries especially in Africa. Its contribution towards small-scale and large-scale farm incomes, employment opportunities, foreign exchange earnings, and food production has experienced unprecedented growth in recent years. A major problem in growing crops on farm land is soil-borne diseases. Growing plants continuously, without crop rotation or interruption in production as in open field production can lead to an excessive build-up of soil pathogens and pests. Because of environmental and health concerns, effective fumigants like methyl bromide use is restricted or is prohibited outright in most countries. This problem, added to the high cost of fuel for steam sterilisation of soil, calls for focusing more attention on controlled environment agriculture. Recently, there has been increasing interest in hydroponics or soilless techniques for producing greenhouse horticultural crops. The principal advantages of hydroponics culture include high-density planting, maximum crop yield, crop production where no suitable soil exists, more efficient use of water and fertilisers, and minimal use of land area. Hydroponics production systems are installed in greenhouses, ensuring year round production, and use less water as compared to conventional production systems. Low agricultural productivity in most developing countries has been attributed to limited availability of irrigation water, inadequate irrigation infrastructure, and high dependence on rain-fed agriculture. Hydroponics horticultural production can be seen as one of the mitigation measures in increasing food production and farm income in developing countries. Hydroponics production technology will contribute to reduction in water utilisation in horticultural production, utilisation of land in areas of little or no agricultural potential, engagement of farmers in horticultural production the year round and reduction of pesticide usage in horticultural production.