Hydroponics And Martian Omelets
What does hydroponics have to do with Martian omelets?
Lemme tell you, if you were stuck on the space station for six months
and started craving a Denver omelet, Hydroponics
would save
the
day.
But let's back up. First, what is this
Hydrowhatchamacallit? Although we are used to seeing plants grown
in soil, they do not actually need soil to grow. Hydroponics is a
growing method which utilizes water and dissolved nutrients.
“Hydro” = water and “ponos” = labor. Thus, hydroponics basically
means “working water”.
There is a whole grocery aisle of benefits to hydroponics
farming. First, by growing in water the absorption of nutrients
is accelerated. The growth rate on a hydroponics plant is 30-50
percent faster than in a soil plant grown under the same
conditions. This makes for greater yields (more!) over less time
and utilizing less space. Hydroponics systems pump the necessary
nutrients right to the plant. Thus, roots do not spread as much
as they do in soil. Scientists believe that the growth rate of
hydroponically grown plants is greater because the plants do not have
to search in the soil for the nutrients they require and this saved
energy allows them to grow faster and produce more. Pretty cool.
Martian omelet?
That's right. For many years NASA has been developing ways for
space station astronauts and eventually planetary colonizers to
generate their own food. It's a must as there is no economical or
feasible way for them to bring 3 years of food supplies with
them. In space, where longer term life will need to be sustained
as we venture out further and further, hydroponics proves to be the
most efficient way to generate fresh foods. it will help
reduce the weight of the supplies that need to be lifted off the
Earth.
And, since space is at a premium in outer space settlements, colonists
will need to use more efficient agricultural techniques than
those used on Earth. Even though hydroponics does not require soil and
takes up less space than normal methods, plants grown
hydroponically are often larger and healthier than plants grown
normally. Hydroponics also is a cleaner method of growing plants than
soil-based systems. It is also thought that dirty water produced
by the astronauts could be cleaned by cycling it through a plant
system.
Enough with the geeky stuff? What can they eat?
As long as they have the seeds and the space to do so, astronauts can
literally grow anything their tummy's desire. Basil.
Tomato. Spinach. Oranges. Bananas. Mushrooms.
Anything. So what we'll have are happy, healthy astronauts with
some green, yellow and red goodies from home to keep their tummy's
smiling. All thanks to hydroponics.
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HYDROPONICS FOR
DUMMIES REVIEW
|
For overall excellence, top value
for the money, low entry level pricing, and idiot proof products and
instructions we highly recommend Stealth Hydroponics out of Michigan.
Here are links to take you directly
to some of their fine line of products:
Complete
Hydroponic
Growing
Kits
Grow
Lights
Nutrients
Grow
Tents |
