Editing Hydroponics (section)

== Advantages ==
* '''Space optimization''': [[Vertical farming]] and advanced control technologies maximize the use of limited spaces.  
* '''Resource management''': Reduced water and fertilizer consumption through the recycling of nutrient solutions.  
* '''Protection for sensitive species''': Controlled conditions shield plants from climatic extremes, pests, and diseases.

Hydrozones lie at the intersection of urban agriculture innovations, environmental concerns, and biodiversity conservation efforts. Notable examples include specialized botanical gardens, cultivation facilities for threatened endemic species, and domestic spaces for advanced horticulture enthusiasts.

===Rotary===
[[File:Expo 2015 - Coltura idroponica al padiglione del Belgio.jpg|thumb|upright|A rotary hydroponic cultivation demonstration at the Belgian Pavilion Expo in 2015]]
A rotary hydroponic garden is a style of commercial hydroponics created within a circular frame which rotates continuously during the entire growth cycle of whatever plant is being grown.{{fact|date=March 2025}}

While system specifics vary, systems typically rotate once per hour, giving a plant 24 full turns within the circle each 24-hour period. Within the center of each rotary hydroponic garden can be a high intensity grow light, designed to simulate sunlight, often with the assistance of a mechanized timer.{{fact|date=March 2025}}

Each day, as the plants rotate, they are periodically watered with a hydroponic growth solution to provide all nutrients necessary for robust growth. Due to the plants continuous fight against gravity, plants typically mature much more quickly than when grown in soil or other traditional hydroponic growing systems.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Al-Kodmany, K. |title=The vertical farm: a review of developments and implications for the vertical city |journal=Buildings |volume=8 |issue=2 |pages=1–24|doi=10.3390/buildings8020024|year=2018|doi-access=free}}</ref> Because rotary hydroponic systems have a small size, they allow for more plant material to be grown per area of floor space than other traditional hydroponic systems.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mvonederland.nl/sites/default/files/media/MVO_factsheet_Skygreens.pdf|title=Commercial Vertical Farming Initiatives|last=Sky Green|date=Jun 17, 2016|website=MVO Netherland|access-date=Nov 22, 2018|author-mask=Sky Green|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180509013713/https://mvonederland.nl/sites/default/files/media/MVO_factsheet_Skygreens.pdf|archive-date=May 9, 2018}}</ref>

Rotary hydroponic systems should be avoided in most circumstances, mainly because of their experimental nature and their high costs for finding, buying, operating, and maintaining them.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Manos |first1=Dimitrios-Panagiotis |last2=Xydis |first2=George |title=Hydroponics: are we moving towards that direction only because of the environment? A discussion on forecasting and a systems review |journal=Environmental Science and Pollution Research |date=May 2019 |volume=26 |issue=13 |pages=12662–12672 |doi=10.1007/s11356-019-04933-5 |pmid=30915697 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2019ESPR...2612662M }}</ref>

=== Vertical farming ===
Some benefits of [[vertical farming]] include that plants grown with this technique can take place inside, be stacked up in layers, and can take advantage of soilless plant-growing techniques such as hydroponics.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vertical Farming – No Longer A Futuristic Concept: USDA ARS |url=https://www.ars.usda.gov/oc/utm/vertical-farming-no-longer-a-futuristic-concept/#:~:text=JA:%20Traditional%20farming%20involves%20planting,other%20methods%20of%20soilless%20agriculture. |access-date=2025-02-24 |website=www.ars.usda.gov}}</ref>

=== Environmental benefits ===
Hydroponic farming offers several environmental benefits when compared to traditional agriculture. The most significant of these is reduced water consumption and controlled nutrient usage. Hydroponic systems can use up to 90% less water when compared to conventional farming. Also, in hydroponic systems, water and nutrients are recirculated in a controlled environment, eliminating runoff and the discharge of pollutants into local waterways.<ref name=":8">{{cite journal |title=Closed soilless growing systems: A sustainable solution for Dutch greenhouse horticulture |journal=Water Science and Technology |date=1999 |volume=39 |issue=5 |doi=10.1016/S0273-1223(99)00091-8 }}</ref>

By using hydroponics to grow crops indoors or in greenhouses, land use is minimized, reserving arable soil and land for other purposes. Also, utilizing the controlled environment created for hydroponic farming reduces the need for pesticides and other chemicals. This is due to the fact that many pests and diseases in farming are soil-borne. Since hydroponics uses other substrates, eliminating soil use, these farming obstacles are reduced.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Gruda |first1=Nazim |title=Do soilless culture systems have an influence on product quality of vegetables? |journal=Journal of Applied Botany and Food Quality |date=6 May 2009 |volume=82 |pages=141–147 |doi=10.18452/9433 }}</ref>

Using hydroponics systems that grow vertically in a space-efficient manner also makes cultivating crops in urban areas possible. However, These systems can use large amounts of energy due to the use of water filtration systems and artificial lighting. Due to this, the carbon footprint of a hydroponic farm can vary depending on factors like the energy source, local climate, and the scale of the operation. Using renewable energy sources such as solar panels has the possibility of making hydroponic farms more sustainable.<ref name=":8" />

=== Resource use ===
Hydroponic systems use less water than traditional farming due to the system's ability to recirculate water rather than absorb it from the soil or lose it to evaporation.{{sfn|Jones Jr.|2016|p={{pn|date=March 2025}}}} Nutrients are also efficiently delivered to plant roots, minimizing nutrient waste and lowering the cost of fertilizing crops.

=== Higher yields and faster growth ===
Because plants are provided with water, nutrients, and light in a controlled environment, hydroponics allows crops to grow faster and potentially yield more within the same or smaller footprint. Some studies show increases of up to 20–30% in crop yield when compared to traditional farming methods.<ref name=":9" />

=== Year-round production ===
Because hydroponic crops can be grown indoors in controlled environments, crops are not dependent on growing seasons or climate. Additionally, extreme weather conditions such as drought and freezing temperatures are less impactful to crops. This stabilizes production and allows hydroponics to produce crops more consistently year-round than traditional farming.<ref name=":7" />

=== Pest and disease control ===
Since hydroponics uses substrates instead of soil as the base for root growth, soil-borne diseases and pests are eliminated. This reduces the use of chemical pesticides and lowers crop maintenance costs.{{sfn|Jones Jr.|2016|p={{pn|date=March 2025}}}}

=== Urban crop growth ===
Hydroponic gardens can be set up in urban areas with little to no arable land. They can be constructed on rooftops, in warehouses, or other available space. This provides the opportunity for urban neighborhoods to have crops grown closer to them, allowing for closer delivery and fresher produce for consumers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Growing {{!}} Controlled Environment Agriculture |url=https://cea.cals.cornell.edu/crops/ |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=cea.cals.cornell.edu}}</ref>