Name: Eunice A. Aruta Section: 9 – Family Teacher: Ms.

Leslie Ann Villegas

LAS PIÑAS CITY SCIENCE HIGH

SCHOOL

HYDROPONICS – AN
ALTERNATIVE WAY FOR CROP
PRODUCTION

RESEARCH PLAN

RATIONALE

Urban community faces agricultural problems due to less available space for crop agriculture.
Hydroponics systems will be a great help to everyone since it is specified as an easy way for rapid plant
growth. The traditional method for planting crops requires time and labor-intensive methods such as
tilling lands, watering crops on a daily basis, putting fertilizer and using unhealthy pesticides. But with
passive hydroponic system using Kratky method, it only demands low labor cost because of automation
system. Under such circumstances, in the near future it will become impossible to feed the entire
population using the open field system of agricultural production only. Soil-less culture is becoming
more relevant in the present scenario, to cope-up with this problem. Hydroponics systems are soil-less
based agriculture. These systems have been utilized as one of the standard methods for plant biology
research where plants are raised without soil. Improved space and water conserving methods of food
production under soil-less culture have shown some promising results all over the world.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. What is the effect of Kratky method of hydroponics vs soil-based method on the growth rate of
plants?

2. Which planting method will produce better plants?

HYPOTHESES

1. The production of plants using Hydroponics method has a higher growth rate compared to the
normal planting or soil-based method.

2. Plants grow faster and healthier when using Kratky method of hydroponics than soil-based
method.

ENGINEERING GOALS

1. The plant which made use of Kratky method of hydroponics will have a higher growth rate
compared to the plant which made use of soil-based method.

2. The plant that made use of Kratky method of hydroponics will grow faster and healthier than the
plant of the soil-based method.

EXPECTED OUTCOME

To find out the effectiveness of passive hydroponics system or Kratky method with SNAP solution
in growing lettuce versus the normal planting or the soil-based method. This is only limited to the
analysis of growing selected plants using passive hydroponics system or Kratky method with SNAP
solution and soil-based method.

• Procedures

The seedlings will undergo two planting methods; using Kratky method of hydroponics and
normal planting or soil-based method. Factors such as the speed of their growth rate and weight of
freshness will be observed.

1. Using Kratky method of hydroponics

Germinate first our crops or seedling in rockwool cubes. Then set up the growing
box, your growing box is the life of the Kratky passive hydroponics system. This is
where all the action takes place as it will house both the net pot and the nutrient solution.
The lid of your box has to have an open space to fit the pot itself. If your container’s lid
doesn’t have this open space, you will have to measure the circumference of the net pot
and cut one out accordingly. The net pot has to fit in the opening up to its lid only. The
net pot has to be snug in place so the net pot is not dunked into the nutrient solution.
Once the primary setup has been completed, it’s time to prepare your crop. When seeds
have germinated sufficiently and are ready for transferring, it’s time to set up your net
pot. All we have to do is to fill each net pot with our clay pebble as our growing medium.
Next, combine your nutrient solution and fill your container. You simply have to match
the ratio of the nutrient powder base on the manufacturer’s manual instructions. Use the
pH meter to get the right pH of the water mixtures. Adding too much nutrient mix to the
 solution can create a toxic solution (high salt, high pH, too) and adding problematic as
your plant will not get the right amount of nutrients it needs. Fill our container all the
way to brim, but be sure to leave just a little space for oxygen. Your net pot will
essentially be riding on a raft on top of the nutrient solution. Lastly, place the lid with
the net pot on top and fix the lid.

2. Normal planting or soil-based method

Prepare the pot with organic soil for planting. The soil in the pot needs to be well-
drained and full of nutrient-rich soil that is full of compost or aged manure. Dig a trench
in the soil, and plant the seeds. Cover the seeds with .5 inch of soil. You can also place
an additional 3 to 4 inches of organic compost or much. This will keep the seeds moist
and prevent weeds from forming. Thin your plants once seedlings have formed their first
real leaves. Thinning is simply removing certain seedlings to allow the plants to spread
out. Harvest your organic lettuce when the outer leaves are about 6 inches long.

• Data Analysis

1. Make a table on the growth rate of Lettuce within 30 days and 50

Method of Planting Height (cm) after Height (cm) after 50

30 days days

Kratky method of

Hydroponics

Soil-based method

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Valentina Lagomarsino (September 26, 2019) Hydroponics: The power of water to grow food retrieved
from http://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2019/hydroponics-the-power-of-water-to-grow-food/

National Park Service Hydroponics: A Better Way to Grow Food retrieved from
https://www.nps.gov/articles/hydroponics.htm

Zac Sarian (January 28, 2020) Hydroponics is Profitable: Even a Small Space Can Produce Income
retrieved from https://www.agriculture.com.ph/2020/01/28/hydroponics-is-profitable-even-a-
smallspace-can-produce-good-income/
Wikipedia Hydroponics https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroponics

General Hydroponics What is Hydroponics? from https://generalhydroponics.com/about-us