Fundamentals of Hydroponic

Vegetable Production and

SNAP Hydroponics
Part 1: Introduction to Hydroponics
 What is hydroponics?

• Hydroponics is the method of

growing plants without soil.

• It uses nutrient solutions that

contains all the essential
nutrients that a plant needs in
a form that is completely
similar to those absorbed by
plants from soil.
 The Global Hydroponics
Market
Country Area (Ha)

China 2,760,000

Korea 57,444

Spain 52,170

Japan 49,049

Turkey 33,515

Italy 26,500

Philippines Less than 100

Source: http://business.inquirer.net/231831/climate-change-hydroponics
 Hydroponics in the
Philippines

• First commercial hydroponics farm was established in the

1980s.

• At present the area devoted to hydroponics in the

Philippines is estimated to be less than 100 Ha.

• Is a young industry in the Philippines

 Potential of Hydroponics in
the Philippines

• A production system that is

sustainable even under urban
setting

• Production of high-value and

offseason crops

• High quality produce. Free of

pests and diseases without
the use of pesticides.
Comparison Between Hydroponics
and Soil-Grown Crops
Hydroponics Production Aspect Soil Grown

none soil preparation yes

less fertiliser more

less water more

less pests/diseases more

less area more

less labor more

less energy more

less production cost more

less production risk more

more cropping cycles less

Hydroponics uses less
and produces more.
Popular Hydroponics Systems
Automated Drip Irrigation
Hydroponics
Automated Drip Irrigation
Hydroponics
Nutrient Film Technique
(NFT)
Nutrient Film Technique
(NFT)
 Disadvantages of Popular
Hydroponics System

• Expensive

• Is costly to run and maintain

Fundamentals of Hydroponic
Vegetable Production and
SNAP Hydroponics
Part 2: Principles of Hydroponics
Some Processes Involved in Plant Growth

Transpiration

Photosynthesis

Water and nutrient uptake

Respiration
How do plants grow in soil?

• Water

• Oxygen

• Carbon dioxide

• Nutrients

• N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, B, Mn,

Cu, Zn, Mo, Cl
 How do plants grow in
hydroponics?

• Water

• Oxygen

• Carbon dioxide

• Nutrients

• N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, B, Mn,

Cu, Zn, Mo, Cl
 Nutrients
Macronutrient Inorganic Form Micronutrient Inorganic Form

Nitrogen (N) NH4+, NO3- Iron (Fe) Fe2+, Fe3+

Phosphorus (P) H2PO4-, HPO42-, PO43- Boron (B) BO3-

Potassium (K) K+ Manganese (Mn) Mn2+

Calcium (Ca) Ca2+ Zinc (Zn) Zn2+

Magnesium (Mg) Mg2+ Copper (Cu) Cu2+

Molybdenum (Mo) MoO5-

Sulfur (S) SO4-2

Chlorine (Cl) Cl-

Plants take up only inorganic nutrients.

Nutrients From Soil, Organic Fertilisers
and Hydroponic Solution Are the Same

SOIL N P K
Nitrogen Phosphorus Potassium

Mg Ca Fe
Magnesium Calcium Iron
ORGANIC CULTURE

Mo Mn Zn
Molybdenum Manganese Zinc

HYDROPONICS
B Cu Cl
Boron Copper Chlorine

S
Sulfur
Other Beneficial Nutrients
SOIL

Si Na
Silicon Sodium
ORGANIC CULTURE

Ni Co
ed
Nickle Cobalt
r act
su bt
d or
e
HYDROPONICS e add
yb
Ma
 Nutrients Available in Soil,
Organic Culture and Hydroponics
Essential Beneficial Toxic
SOIL
Nutrients Nutrients Minerals

Essential Beneficial Toxic

ORGANIC CULTURE
Nutrients Nutrients Minerals

Essential Beneficial
HYDROPONICS
Nutrients Nutrients

Toxic mineral concentration may have trace (safe) or significant (toxic) levels.
 Toxic Minerals
SOIL Pb Al Hg
Lead Aluminum Mercury ROOT

UPTAKE
ORGANIC CULTURE Cd As
Cadmium Arsenic

Pb Al Hg
Lead Aluminum Mercury
HYDROPONICS

Cd As
Cadmium Arsenic
Which system of vegetable
production is safer?
Essential Beneficial Toxic
SOIL
Nutrients Nutrients Minerals

Essential Beneficial Toxic

ORGANIC CULTURE
Nutrients Nutrients Minerals

Essential Beneficial
HYDROPONICS
Nutrients Nutrients
 Organic Nutrient Absorption by
Plants

WHEN COMPOSTED
 NITROGEN


NITROGEN FROM THE PLANT
 BECOMES

BECOMES AVAILABLE IN AN
 PART THE PLANT
ORGANIC FORM
MINERALIZATION

AIDED BY IMO

ROOT

NH4+ NO3- ABSORPTION

NH4+ NO3-
SOIL SOLUTION

IMO - Indigenous Microorganism

 Plants Do Not Chose Which
Nutrient It Will Take Up

WHEN COMPOSTED
 NITROGEN


NITROGEN FROM THE PLANT
 BECOMES

BECOMES AVAILABLE IN AN
 PART THE PLANT
ORGANIC FORM
MINERALIZATION

AIDED BY IMO

NH4+ NO3-
ROOT

Organic Fertilizers NH4+ NO3- ABSORPTION

NH4+ NO3- NH4+ NO3-

SOIL SOLUTION
Inorganic Fertilizers Soil

IMO - Indigenous Microorganism

It is important to note that when supplied
to plants in the organic form, nutrients
still must cycle through the inorganic
form before becoming available to plants.

Source: Introduction to Inorganic and Organic Nutrients by Dr. David W. Dibbs

Factors Affecting Plant
Growth in Hydroponics
Root aeration, solution pH, light, temperature.
 Aeration of the Roots
Factors Affected

• Respiration

• Active nutrient uptake

• Water uptake
Aeration of the Roots
Appearance of healthy well aerated roots.
Aeration of the Roots
Appearance of roots not receiving enough oxygen .
 Solution pH
Factors Affected

• Nutrient availability

• Acidity/alkalinity

• Root growth
 Light

In vegetable production,
growth is always better when
plants receive early morning
sunlight.
 Temperature
Effects on Root

• Respiration

• Nutrient Uptake

Effects on Shoot
• Low fruit production

• Bolting

• Lack of curd or head

• Scalding

• Bitterness
If you feel comfortable with the
current temperature then your
plants must be “feeling”
comfortable too.
Fundamentals of Hydroponic
Vegetable Production and
SNAP Hydroponics
Part 3: SNAP Hydroponics
 SNAP Hydroponics
The Physiology Laboratory of
the Institute of Plant Breeding
in the University of the
Philippines Los Baños and the
Bureau of Agricultural
Research of the of the
Department of Agriculture
developed a non-circulating
hydroponic system and are
still making headways to
improve it.

Source: Manual on the Principles of Hydroponics by Dr. Santos and Dr. Ocampo
 SNAP Hydroponics

• SNAP stands for Simple Nutrient Addition Program

• It is a low-cost, low-maintenance hydroponics system

that is designed for household and small-scale vegetable
production.

• It works well in small urban spaces.

 Getting Started with SNAP Hydroponics

• Before anything else it is imperative that you find a suitable

location for your SNAP Hydroponics setup.

• Find a location that sunny and is protected from rain. An east

facing area protected by an awning works well.

• Early morning sunlight is best for vegetable production.

 Materials Needed

• Well established seedlings

• Growbox

• Seedling plugs

• Ten liters of SNAP Hydroponics working solution

Using the Included Measuring Cup
Fill with nutrient
solution up to this line.

The contents will be

exactly 25mL

Filling it up to
the brim goes
over 35mL.
Demo follows…