Is Hydroponics the solution to the impending global fresh water crisis?

It is thought  the next generation wars will be fought over water, which countries are rapidly running out of. However the bulk of fresh water is used in irrigation where technologies remain outdated. 

It takes 11,000 liters to water to produce one kilo of rice using the traditional flood irrigation methods. The same output of rice can be obtained with just 4 liters of water using hydroponics techniques where nutients are directly applied to plant roots. This illustrates the utter wastefulness of present day water consumption habits and indicates an alternate to water use. But want know from the experts that what they think about this? Is Hydroponics the solution to the impending global fresh water crisis?

Taxonomy

• Agriculture
• Hydroponics
• Irrigation
• Agriculture
• Freshwater
• Hydrology Nutrient Cycling
• Crop Farming
• Water & Wastewater
• Agriculture
• Crops
• Soil-less Agriculture

2 Answers

1. Hydroponics
   
   Yes, according to me Hydroponics is going to rule the agriculture world in coming years. Many people think of hydroponics as growing plants in water, but hydroponics production actually is defined as growing plants without soil. This production system may use a wide variety of organic and inorganic materials. The nutrient solution, rather than the media in which the plants are growing, always supplies most of the plant nutrient requirements. This method of growing has also been referred to as nutrient-solution culture, soil less culture, water culture, gravel culture and nutriculture.  Advantages of Hydroponics  • Land is not necessary. It can be practiced even in upstairs, open spaces and  in protected structures.  • Low drudgery. No need of making beds, weeding, watering, etc.  • Continuous cultivation is possible.  • No soil borne diseases or nematode damage.  • Off-season production is possible.  • Vegetable cultivation can be done with leisure sense.  • Many plants were found to give yield early in hydroponics system.  • Higher yields possible with correct management practices.  • Easy to hire labour as hydroponics system is more attractive and easier than  cultivation in soil.  • No need of electricity, pumps, etc. for the non-circulating systems of solution  culture.  • Water wastage is reduced to minimum.

2. Research shows that it takes 1100 liters of water to grow one kilo of rice through the traditional flood irrigation methods. The same kilo of rice can be grown with just 5 liters of water with Hydroponics technology. But, hydroponics requires substantial initial investment and a relatively complex technology. This high-tech will require maintence effort and a high skill level, which is simply not available with marginal farmers. The raw materials for hydroponics are also chemical nutrients which themselves will require great amounts of water and energy to produce. Therefore, there is the fundmental issue of scalability, in which hydroponics is not competitive. Therefore, the fresh water crisis will likely be mitigated by technologies that can co-exist with traditional methods.