Hydroponics: Factors influencing the growth of the plants: Vertical farming-Carbon footprint- Marketing updates

This review paper of literature highlights the factors governing hydroponics and carbon foot print of vertical farming. Hydroponics is the art of growing plants without a soil but with using nutrient solution under hi-tech greenhouse controlled conditions in urban area. Because of the precise regulation of watering and feeding the plant, this method is superior to the traditional method. Hydroponics is influenced by many factors such as, light, oxygen level, carbon di-oxide (CO2), nutrients supply, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), water, humidity, temperature, human labor, maintenance of the machinery, electricity, and water supply. Vertical farms generate an opportunity to grow crops in locations and altitudes that are not optimal for the plants growth. However, carbon foot print of hydroponic vertical farming is very high. In many cases, vertical farm production methods contribute more to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than products grown in the field and shipped long distances to market. Transportation of food materials results in carbon emissions from trucks burning fossil fuels. Initial investment to start hydroponic farming is very high. These greenhouses are energy intensive. Growing with green versions of conventional methods was more climate change advantageous than hydroponic systems. Therefore, hydroponic vertical farming are not going to reverse climate change. Hence degrading land and it is becoming un-farmable, then hydroponics is a good back up plan. Therefore, vertical farms, as they exist today, are not able to provide a sustainable solution to the global issues of decreasing availability of arable land and increasing food demands, even though they offer great benefits when compared to conventional farming methods. Vertical farms in urban cities will not solve food shortages or provide the calories that stave off hunger. This makes it difficult to justify the high environmental cost of lighting a hydroponic vertical farm and therefore, not a successful story.