Is 2020 the Year for Hydroponic Growers?
We talk a lot on the blog about the ways sensors are used in farming. Everything from proper irrigation amounts to soil moisture levels and even aiding in quality crop production are all possible with the help of sensors.
Today though, less fertile lands to the farm are becoming an issue and new ways to grow are increasingly taking root.
Hydroponics…
is one way that uses water to grow plants instead of the traditional plant-in-soil method. The roots are suspended direction into the water and nutrients are added to the water to help them grow. This type of farming is also referred to as, “vertical farming.”
There are numerous benefits to hydroponic farming most importantly though, it meets increasing consumer demands for healthy foods and a reduction of food miles required for produce to travel before it makes it to plates for consumption. According to market projections, the global market for hydroponics is expected to reach $16B by 2025. This is an annual compounded growth rate of 12.1 percent from the $8.1B earned in 2019.
So where do sensors come in?
Many of the facilities utilizing hydroponics today also maintain high-end clean rooms, recycle water for re-use and have controlled air to achieve optimal crop outcomes.
With sensors, it’s possible to control humidity levels in these spaces and monitor water nutrient quality. Also, ultrasonic flow meters and liquid level sensors can be used to control pumps delivering the necessary elements.