Aeroponics

• Aeroponics is the process of growing plants in an air or mist environment without the use of soil or an aggregate medium.
• It involves the growing of plants in a trough or container in which the roots are suspended and sprayed with a nutrient mist.
• The rooted plants are placed in a special type of box with computer controlled humid atmosphere.

Advantages of aeroponics

• As aeroponics is conducted in air combined with micro-droplets of water helps in faster and better growth of plants with a plentiful supply of oxygen, water and nutrients
• Plants in a true aeroponic conditions have 100% access to the CO2 concentrations for photosynthesis
• Aeroponics can limit disease transmission since plant-to-plant contact is reduced and each spray pulse can be sterile. In the case of soil, aggregate, or other media, disease can spread throughout the growth

Disadvantages of Aeroponics

• High initial cost: Requires specialized chambers, misting nozzles, timers, and pumps, making it expensive to establish.
• Complex setup: Technical expertise is needed to design, operate, and maintain the system.
• Energy dependence: Continuous electricity is essential to run misting units; any power failure can damage crops quickly.
• Root drying risk: If misting fails even for a short time, roots can dry out and plants may die.
• Clogging of nozzles: Nutrient precipitates or poor water quality can block misting nozzles, reducing efficiency.
• Disease vulnerability: High humidity in root zones favors fungal pathogens like Pythium if sanitation is poor.
• Limited crop suitability: Works best for high-value short-duration crops (lettuce, herbs, leafy greens); not always practical for large fruiting plants.
• Monitoring required: Frequent checks of nutrient concentration, pH, and misting intervals are necessary.
• Skilled labor needed: Requires trained personnel for troubleshooting and maintaining automation.