Hydroponics is

Solution culture is being used for raising flowers and vegetables at home. This soilless production of plants is called hydroponics (Gk. hydor - water, ponas - excretion) Plans are raised in small tanks of concrete or metal; The tanks are covered over by wire netting or gauze. They are filled up with a water solution containing appropriate quantities of all mineral elements. The solution is changed from time to time. There is a mechanism for aeration and circulation. \(p \mathrm{H}\) is checked and corrections are made regularly. Iron is added as Fe-EDTA otherwise it gets precipitated, especially in alkaline \(p \mathrm{H}\). The agent which keeps metals in the soluble state is called chelating agent or ligand. EDTA (Ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid) is one such agent. Fe-EDTA complex is called chelate. As soon as the plant enlarge they are tied to the roof of the chambers by means of strings. Hydroponics is useful in areas having thin, infertile and dry soils. They conserve water. Additionally hydroponics can regulate \(p \mathrm{H}\) optimum for a particular crop, control soil borne pathogens, avoid problems of weeding and obtain consistently better yield.