Hydroponics: A Smart Alternative to Growing Rice?
Filed in archive Food and Agriculture on January 21, 2006
This entry is submitted by Gloria Gamat, via Creative Reporter.
For almost three years now, (in my current research work) I have been growing rice hydroponically (in culture (nutrient) solution, without soil) usually under stressed conditions (some elements, usually P and Zn are deficient); but only for varietal screening and physiological measurements; so that we don�t grow the plants more than 30 or 60 days. Rice usually takes 90-120 days to harvest in field conditions.
The news below came as a pleasant surprise to the rice-eating world:
In a heavily fortified, air-tight bank vault deep below the financial district of Tokyo a small agricultural revolution has taken place: a group of farmers has cultivated the world�s first crop of hydroponically grown rice.
The 60kg (132lb) of Koshihikari rice reaped yesterday may fill only a single regulation-sized sack, but its significance is huge: the rice has grown to maturity without natural light or a paddy field.
If the same process were done on a commercial scale, its creators say, Japanese farmers could reap four harvests every year rather than one, and not be affected by seasonal weather patterns that have become more and more extreme.
The Times Online article did not mention though how cost-effective the whole process was. Considering the huge amount of the culture (nutrient) solution that will be consumed until plant maturity and harvest; chemicals don�t come cheap.
About Gloria Gamat: Gloria is a proud single-mom to Raine (Rainier Brando: born 29 December 2002) and a chemist. Gloria also blogs about motherhood at EMothersOnline and about life and travel in the Philippines at The Philippine Culture Blog and at Pinoy Travel Blog respectively.
Photo Credit: IRRI Bulletin
The 60kg (132lb) of Koshihikari rice reaped yesterday may fill only a single regulation-sized sack, but its significance is huge: the rice has grown to maturity without natural light or a paddy field.
If the same process were done on a commercial scale, its creators say, Japanese farmers could reap four harvests every year rather than one, and not be affected by seasonal weather patterns that have become more and more extreme.
Tags: rice hydroponic biotech growing alternative alternative+growing growing+rice smart+alternative
Vote for Hydroponics: A Smart Alternative to Growing Rice?:
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Rating: 7.33 out of 18 vote(s) cast.
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Response from:
heidarzade
(10/17/07 10:03pm)
i am master of science student and live in tehran and my thesis title about the phenolic componds of rise in the hydroponic solution and i very intrested to have relations with you
Response from:
Haji Puspa
(08/13/08 7:06am)
I am very interested to promote your hydroponic to the government of Brunei via Ministry of Industry and Primary resources and would also like to use your system for my own as a trial to show or proof to the Government that your hydroponic rice are fully sucess and very beneficial to the country.
Response from:
Dermot Connolly
(10/27/08 12:08pm)
Check out are new Irish online retail store Gromaximusbuds.ie
Response from:
Pirelli
(12/06/09 10:13am)
@"farmers could reap four harvests every year rather than one, and not be affected by seasonal weather patterns"
This seems like a very unintelligent conclusion. Why would anybody in his right mind would want to get rid of the natural order, just to grow some food?
How about making a very serious root cause analysis of those extreme weather patterns, and then trying to fix the cause, not the effect.
It doesn't look like this is any farmer's way of growing food. It looks rather like something pushed out by greedy corporation$ guy$ that don't care at all about culture and the environment, and daydream about farming on Mars some day.
This seems like a very unintelligent conclusion. Why would anybody in his right mind would want to get rid of the natural order, just to grow some food?
How about making a very serious root cause analysis of those extreme weather patterns, and then trying to fix the cause, not the effect.
It doesn't look like this is any farmer's way of growing food. It looks rather like something pushed out by greedy corporation$ guy$ that don't care at all about culture and the environment, and daydream about farming on Mars some day.
Response from:
Adventures in Ethics and Science
These are the offerings for the semester starting February 1, 2006. Students are encouraged to sit in on a variety of classes during the "shopping" period. In addition to academic offerings, this listing includes programs in the residence halls...
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