GETTING TO THE ROOT OF IT ALL
T
he hydroponic root zone is a microcosm of the real
world below ground. Confined and restricted by
volume, it requires a high degree of control for maximum
efficiency. Plants grown in soil and in hydroponics have the
same requirements for water, oxygen and nutrients, but the
frequent rate of replenishment of these in soilless culture is
one of the main advantages of hydroponic production.
While root growth and health may go largely unobserved
by many indoor gardeners, the proper functioning of roots
is vital to plant productivity, and hydroponic methods can
place specific demands on root system physiology.
Soil vs. Hydroponic Root Systems
In most soil systems, plant roots have the freedom to grow
and stretch out as they need to. Many plants will send tap
roots many feet deep into the soil in search of nutrients and
water, while other species may develop shallow, but highly
branched, root systems. This is due to the fact that root morphology depends not only on genetics, but also on soil and
water constraints in the root zone.
In hydroponics, where the available root volume is highly
restricted, root density is considerably higher than in most
soil-based systems. However, with water, nutrients and
oxygen delivered directly to the root surface on a frequent
basis, hydroponic plants don’t need to expend as much
energy on growing roots for long-distance foraging.
A long, unbranched root system.
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Maximum Yield USA | November 2015