Tehran, Iran, Oct. 22
Trend:
Iranian farmers have resorted to using hydroponics, which is a method of growing plants without soil by using mineral nutrient solutions in a water solvent, IRNA reported.
According to the report, Iranian government is encouraging farmers to use hydroponic systems.
Decreasing the amount of water that is used during the irrigation of crops is a top priority for the government and farmers as some major Iranian cities are facing water rationing and other mandatory restrictions if the worst dry spell in more than 50 years persists.
The report added that the method, which is a way to save water, could help reduce water used for this practice by 70 percent.
Currently, 534 hectares of land are under cultivation in Markazi province, using the hydroponic system.
The government has so far spent 2,000 billion rials to expand such projects, the report said.
Many are still uncertain about the benefits of hydroponics and its water saving methods. Given hydroponic plants grow entirely in water one might think soilless gardening uses more water.
Contrary to this perception, some hydroponic systems can actually save up to 10 times the amount of water used in traditional field crop production. The simple explanation is that the water is being used to feed the plants as opposed to the majority of it going directly into the ground where it won’t be used.