Root Structure Benefits - Free Essay Example

Aeroponics The most recent technology to be developed in agriculture is Aeroponics, a method in which a plant’s roots are fed and watered midair. The plants are generally suspended from baskets (similar to those in which strawberries are packaged) at the top of a closed trough or cylinder. With the plants suspended in this manner, all essential nourishment can be provided to the roots by spraying them with a nutrient solution. Since the roots are suspended in midair, they receive the maximum amount of oxygen possible. This method is also the most nutrient-efficient, because you need only provide what the plants require, and any nutrient that is not absorbed is drained back into the reservoir and recycled much like the previous methods. It is of utmost importance that the atmosphere in which the roots grow is maintained at 100% relative humidity to prevent dehydration. A drawback to current aeroponic systems is maintaining root health in the event of pump malfunction or loss of power. Without the spray of nutrient enriched water, root systems will not remain healthy for long. They will rapidly dry up and die. However, the increased oxygenation that is received by the plant’s root structure benefits growth at an unprecedented level and has been scientifically proven to increase crop yields by as much as 10 times over soil. The AeroSpring design that is featured for construction later in the book combines aeroponics with a deep, reservoir to protect against crop loss in the event of a pump failure.