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| | | Home»Aero-hydroponic: The Method |
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| | | | Aero-hydroponic: The Method | | | | | |
| Aero-hydroponic: The Method
The term Aero-hydroponics is not as simple as it seems it would be and so is the method to understand. As compared to the other hydroponic methods the hydroponic equipment required in this case is somewhat more complicated, but there is a great advantage in that once an aero-hydroponic system is set up, it will run almost indefinitely without additional investment in such disposable components as growing media and non-recirculating nutrients.
What is most surprising about aero-hydroponics is why plants grow better, but not how it works. The dissolved oxygen at the root boundary zone is the key behind this. The essence of Dr. Soffer's work at UCD was in quantifying root growth in proportion to dissolved oxygen. Only the green parts of the plant can form oxygen from carbon dioxide - roots require a supply of oxygen for metabolism and growth. Dr. Soffer found that the enhanced oxygen at the root zone produced enhanced growth Plant whereas growth in oxygen deficient conditions, such as those found in many soils, is limited. In aero-hydroponic, the nutrient solution is sprayed through the air in order to infuse the nutrient with dissolved oxygen. The method differs from classic Aeroponics in a sense that here the majority of the roots are submerged in oxygen-infused nutrient which is in constant motion in order to maintain high levels of dissolved oxygen at the root boundary zone where oxygen and nutrients are taken in by the plant. Whereas on the other hand in classical model most of the plant's roots are not suspended in air and fed by a spray of nutrient solution.
Thus the result of such hardwork is a propagating tool with unsurpassed performance. He took particular delight in propagating varieties of conifers and even pistachio trees (pistachio cuttings required 90 days to generate roots). Moreover, he found that cuttings could be rooted aerohydroponically in purified water without using rooting hormones such as IBA or NAA because plant tissue already contains the natural rooting hormone IAA (Indole Acetic Acid). Hence Dr. Soffer was successful in propagating plant varieties at UCD that had never been propagated before.
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