What is meaning of soil less farming

 We all know that plants grow in soil but, what is soil? Well, we can say it as most abundant growing medium that provides substratum & also contains some typical macro and micro nutrients needed for plants. In soilless farming, such as hydroponics, we simply deliver these same nutrients through water that have been premixed into water tank, along with high level of oxygen, efficiently to the plants. There is so much to express when it comes to soilless farming. So, the article "Soilless farming" Typically focusses on various heading that are explained below:-

Soilless farming:- As the name suggest, it is the method of growing crops without soil in presence of artificial medium. This type of farming can be used to grow plants at home as well as on a more commercial scale, and are more suitable for vegetables (leafy vegetables, tomatoes), fruits ( mainly strawberries), Aromatic herbs and ornamental plants. 

It may sound you pretty amazing but with the advancement of agriculture and it's allied fields;this type of farming has become practically successful with highly satisfied result. We have seen many plants growing in the water in water bottle or on the wooden board since our childhood. Thus we can say that we are very familiar with this type of farming. In this method of farming we highly depends on water along with fertilizers, coco peat and supporting frame. 

Types Of Soilless Farming:-

1. Hydrophonics
2. Aquaphonics
3. Aerophonics

1. Hydrophonics:- In hydrophonics crops like leafy vegetables, tomatoes are grown without soil by using mineral nutrients solution in an aqueous solvent. In this method, coco peat is used for the anchorage of root. The main advantage of this system is that it is free from Soil borne diseases as there is no use of soil. 
   
   
   
   
2. Aquaphonics:- Aquaphonics, refers to the combination of hydrophonics and aquaculture i.e fish farming in symbiotic environment. When these two techniques are combined become complementry, allowing farmers to establish a loop that is almost closed, producing fish and crop.
   
   
   
   
   
3. Aerophonics:-It is the method of growing plants in an air or mist environment without use of soil or an aggregate medium. It is a popular indoor farming system for ornamental plants.

You don't need a large space for this technique and the infrastructure required is relatively light (wooden board, geotextile, pots, bage, gutters, ets). That is why this method work so well in urban spaces, including in gardens, on roofs, on balconies.

 Needs of Soilless farming:- The need of Soilless farming is increasing rapidly due to following reasons. 

1. Shrinkage in agricultural land:- Due to rapid population growth and urbanization, the fertile agricultural land is converted into human shelter as well as industries establishment. But the demand of agricultural goods are increasing day by day. Thus in order to fulfill the gap between demand and supply, we must go for alternative farming system i.e Soilless farming. 
2. Soil toxicity:- For few last decades, the use of excessive chemical fertilizers has degraded the fertility as well as productivity of soil. Thus the ability of soil to give high yield has been destroyed. So now we must go for Soilless farming. 
3. Pollution control:- Soilless farming is best technique for pollution control as the required nutrients is dissolved in water and supplied to plant through artificial structure. 
4. Unseasonal production of crops:- Soilless farming is artificial method of growing crops. In this system, every requirements needed for plants are controlled artificially. Thus unseasonal crops can be grown letting farmers to fetch good profit. 
5. Free from soil borne diseases:- As this farming excludes the use of soil, so the plants are free from various soil borne diseases and enhances the yield.