Farming is the way crops have been produced throughout cultures and generations, originating with the traditional soil method. The traditional soil method of growing plants is a process by which crops are grown in soil (Freedman, 2004). In this process, there are a multitude of things to be controlled and done. One must rotate crops, prevent soil erosion, exterminate pests, efficiently conserve water, diversify crops, and maintain soil conditions (Valenzuela, 2003). In attempt to minimize these responsibilities and tasks to complete, new and potentially more efficient methods of farming were formulated, including hydroponics.
In the seventeenth century, Sir Francis Bacon, a British scientist, began experimenting on soil-free gardening, sparking …show more content…
Belgian scientist Jan Baptista van Helmont chose to experiment on willow shoots (“Hydroponics,” 2004). He kept one in soil and watered it throughout five years. He observed how the plant absorbed more water from the water itself rather than the soil that it was planted in. From this, he formulated the idea that most of a plant’s nutrition came from water rather than soil. Scientist W.F. Gericke of the University of California applied hydroponics while growing tomato plants (“Hydroponics,” 2004). His experiment revealed hydroponics to double crop yield over traditional soil. From these experiments and other contributions from scientists on the matter, it is not impossible to believe that hydroponics is the better method of growing plants compared to the traditional soil …show more content…
A team of Chinese scientists worked with rice by planting it both hydroponically and traditionally. It was found that the traditional method had better results, revealing how new advancements in farming could potentially fail while the traditional method would continue to remain intact (Monbiot, 2000). In another study, it was found that wheat grown with natural nutrients in soil produced higher yields than wheat grown with artificial nutrients, showing how soil provides a better supply of nutrients compared to nutrient solution (Monbiot, 2000). Both of these conclusions were some among many that validated the belief that the traditional method is the best farming
In the seventeenth century, Sir Francis Bacon, a British scientist, began experimenting on soil-free gardening, sparking …show more content…
Belgian scientist Jan Baptista van Helmont chose to experiment on willow shoots (“Hydroponics,” 2004). He kept one in soil and watered it throughout five years. He observed how the plant absorbed more water from the water itself rather than the soil that it was planted in. From this, he formulated the idea that most of a plant’s nutrition came from water rather than soil. Scientist W.F. Gericke of the University of California applied hydroponics while growing tomato plants (“Hydroponics,” 2004). His experiment revealed hydroponics to double crop yield over traditional soil. From these experiments and other contributions from scientists on the matter, it is not impossible to believe that hydroponics is the better method of growing plants compared to the traditional soil …show more content…
A team of Chinese scientists worked with rice by planting it both hydroponically and traditionally. It was found that the traditional method had better results, revealing how new advancements in farming could potentially fail while the traditional method would continue to remain intact (Monbiot, 2000). In another study, it was found that wheat grown with natural nutrients in soil produced higher yields than wheat grown with artificial nutrients, showing how soil provides a better supply of nutrients compared to nutrient solution (Monbiot, 2000). Both of these conclusions were some among many that validated the belief that the traditional method is the best farming