By Qudsia Bano ISLAMABAD, May 12 (INP-WealthPK): In view of increasing deforestation, urbanisation and industrialisation, which have threatened soil-based agriculture, scientists have developed a novel alternative farming technology known as soil-less or hydroponic farming. Talking about the technology, Dr Sajjad, a senior scientific officer at Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC), told WealthPK that hydroponics is a way of growing plants that does not require the use of soil, and only water and nutrients are needed for growing plants. “Hydroponic-driven plant growing technologies offer a higher yield in less time and in a smaller space than crops grown conventionally. Since the plants are grown in a more protected environment, use of pesticides and herbicides is reduced or eliminated altogether.” Dr Sajjad explained that hydroponics is a year-round growing technique regardless of the weather outside. “The fodder grown hydroponically is similar to hydroponically-grown vegetables, flowers and other plants,” he maintained, adding that sprouting cereal grains like barley, oats, wheat, sorghum and corn, as well as legumes like alfalfa, clover and cowpeas, are common in hydroponic fodder systems. The PARC official said that barley is the most widely produced fodder because it contains the highest nutritional yield. Explaining the technique, he said, “A typical hydroponic fodder system consists of a shelf foundation on which metal or plastic trays are stacked. A layer of seeds is put across the base of the trays after they have been soaked overnight. The seeds need to stay wet but not soaked during the growth period. They are irrigated with water and (sometimes) nutrients, usually using drip or spray irrigation. Drainage is facilitated via holes in the trays, and wastewater is collected in a tank.” Explaining further, he said seeds normally sprout in 24 hours and form a six-to-eight-inch-high grass mat in five to eight days. After removing the mat from the tray, it can be placed in a feed mixer or fed to livestock by hand. Green fodder can be produced efficiently year-round provided the environmental conditions are ideal: around 70°F, 60% humidity and 16 hours of light. Dr Sajjad said hydroponic growth systems normally necessitate a large financial commitment. He said it takes little over a week for a seedling to reach a fully-developed plant of 20-30 centimetres. “When compared to typical fodder grown for 65-80 days, the biomass conversion ratio in hydroponically-grown fodder might be as high as 6-7 times.” “There are many different sizes and capacities of hydroponic fodder systems in Pakistan. Large fodder sheds may produce many tonnes of fodder each day, whereas a mini-fodder system can only produce 10 lbs. You can either create your own system or acquire a "turn-key" system from a commercial company,” the PARC scientist told WealthPK. He said that compared to conventionally-produced fodder, hydroponic fodder provides a number of advantages. “Water is used quite efficiently in the production of hydroponic fodder. Because the animals can drink the recirculated water along with the meal, there is little waste. There is no fertiliser seeping into the environment because the production is hydroponic. Hydroponic fodder cultivation uses a lot less area than traditional fodder production.”