From Hanging Gardens to High-Tech Farms: The Story of Hydroponics

Human civilization has been advancing agricultural practices for millennia.

Not surprisingly, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon are on the list of Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

When Cortez discovered the Aztec Empire back in 1519, floating gardens were commonly used to provide food security for the growing Aztec urban population, marking an early example of Ancient Hydroponics.

From Soil to Solution: The Emergence of Water Culture

More recent evidence of hydroponic cultivation methods, where roots are immersed directly in nutrient solution, dates back to the works of Francis Bacon published in 1627 (Bacon, 1627). In his seminal book “Sylva Sylvarum”, Bacon observed that plants grown in less pure water showed better growth compared to those in distilled water. This early insight laid a foundational stone in Hydroponics History.

Further advancing these concepts, John Woodward's studies in 1699 echoed Bacon's findings. Woodward noted that the highest spearmint biomass was reached when grown in water with the greatest admixture of soil. This period marked a pivotal phase in the Evolution of Hydroponics, setting the stage for future developments.

Exploring Nutrient Solutions: The Knop-Sachs Contribution

The formal establishment of water culture can be traced back to Julius von Sachs in 1860. Sachs' pioneering work demonstrated that land plants could absorb nutrients directly from water solutions, effectively growing without soil.

The Science Behind Water Cultures: Early Experiments

This revelation was monumental in shaping the course of soil and Soilless Plant Growth studies. Here is the direct Sachs quote on water culture:

“In the year 1860, I published the results of experiments which demonstrated that land plants are capable of absorbing their nutritive matters out of watery solutions, without the aid of soil, and that it is possible in this way not only to maintain plants alive and growing for a long time, as had long been known, but also to bring about a vigorous increase of their organic substance, and even the production of seed capable of germination.”

Wilhelm Knop, who also conducted water culture experiments, at the same time as Sachs, was the first to propose a nutrient solution for water culture in 1865. The solution became widely used for many plant nutrition studies, igniting a scientific “gold rush” to develop other formulas for nutrient solutions (Tollen, 1882; Schimper, 1890; Pfeffer, 1900; Cron, 1092; Tottingham, 1914; Shive, 1915; Hoagland, 1920). Interestingly enough, many early investigators including Sachs himself concluded that there is no universal nutrient solution. Here is what Sachs wrote:

I mention the quantities (of chemicals) I am accustomed to use generally in water cultures, with the remark, however, that a somewhat wide margin may be permitted with respect to the quantities of the individual salts and the concentration of the whole solution—it does not matter if a little more or less of the one or the other salt is taken—if only the nutritive mixture is kept within certain limits as to quality and quantity, which are established by experience.

For more hydroponic systems management insights, explore this detailed article on Optimal pH for Hydroponics.

Twentieth Century Advancements: The Scientific Foundations of Modern Hydroponics

Hydroponic cultivation gained significant traction in the early 20th century. This period in Hydroponics History was marked not just by scientific curiosity but by a growing understanding of the practical applications of soilless cultivation. The research conducted during this era played a crucial role in unraveling the complex plant-soil interactions.

Commercializing Hydroponics: The Gerike Era

The idea of Commercial Hydroponics Development was first proposed by Dr. William Gerike, who actively participated in early hydroponic experiments. A new extravagant method of growing plants without soil gained widespread publicity in the 1930s. Intrigued by new possibilities, thousands of people were sending inquiries to the University of California requesting practical information for commercial and domestic use of hydroponics.

Video Link: Professor William Gerike - The Inventor of Modern Hydroponics
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Water Culture Frontiers: Innovations in Hydroponic Research

Adoption of hydroponics was not without its challenges. The initial astonishment with this novel method was accompanied by scepticism. To bring light on the use of soilless culture Professor Dennis Hoagland and Daniel Arnon conducted a series of hydroponic experiments. When the results of these experiments were first published in 1938, they included only technical information and did not include any general recommendations. So did the later revisions (Hoagland and Arnon, 1950).

Feeding the Troops: Hydroponics during WWII

During World War II, hydroponics emerged not just as a scientific curiosity but as a practical solution to real-world challenges. In an impressive display of ingenuity and resourcefulness, Daniel Arnon applied his extensive knowledge of plant nutrition to address a critical issue: feeding U.S. Army troops stationed on the remote Ponape Island in the western Pacific. Faced with a scarcity of arable land, Arnon turned to hydroponics as a viable alternative. By 1951 this innovative approach led to the remarkable production of nearly 5 million pounds of fresh, 'salad-type vegetables'. This achievement was not only a testament to the adaptability and effectiveness of hydroponics in challenging conditions but also marked a pivotal moment in the evolution and practical application of hydroponic systems. To understand the modern applications and challenges of hydroponics, consider reading Irrigation Water Quality Matters.

The Evolution of Hydroponic Systems: From Basics to High-Tech

Post-war advancements continued to shape the landscape of modern hydroponics.

Hydroponics in the Digital Age: Technological Integration

The invention of the nutrient film technique in 1965 (Cooper, 1979) and subsequent innovations by NASA in aeroponics (Stoner, 1983) and hydroponics for Bioregenerative Life Support Systems (Heiney, 2004) represent significant strides in the field.

Hydroponics in Modern Agriculture: A Global Perspective

Today, the majority of hydroponic cultivation occurs in Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) facilities, plant factories, and vertical farms. This evolution spans from small-scale setups to large commercial operations like Planet Farms in Milan, Italy, showcasing the versatility and widespread adoption of hydroponics in modern agriculture.

Discover more about the interplay of EC and pH in these systems in the article Optimizing EC and pH in Substrate: Essential Strategies.

Further reading:

Bacon, F. (1627) Sylva sylvarum, or, A natural history in ten centuries. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/95202443/.
Cooper, A. J. (1979). The ABC of NFT: nutrient film technique: the world's first method of crop production without a solid rooting medium. London: Grower Books.
Gerike, W.F. (1940) The Complete Guide To Soilless Gardening
Heiney, A. ( 2004). "Farming for the Future". www.nasa.gov. Retrieved Nov 21, 2018.
Hoagland, D.R. and Arnon, D.I. (1950) The water culture method for growing plants without soil. University of California, Berkeley.
Nanavati, A. (2022) Hydroponic Imperialism: Race, Hygiene and Agro-Technology in Occupied Japan, 1945–60
Stoner, R. J. (1983). "Rooting in Air". Greenhouse Grower. 1 (11).

From Hanging Gardens to High-Tech Farms: The Story of Hydroponics

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