Editing Hydroponics (section)

===Aeroponics===
{{Main|Aeroponics}}
[[Aeroponics]] is a system wherein roots are continuously or discontinuously kept in an environment saturated with fine drops (a [[mist]] or [[aerosol]]) of nutrient solution. The method requires no substrate and entails growing plants with their roots suspended in a deep air or growth chamber with the roots periodically wetted with a fine mist of [[Atomizer nozzle|atomized nutrients]]. Excellent aeration is the main advantage of aeroponics.
[[File:Systeme AEROPONIC 573px.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|A diagram of the [[Aeroponics|aeroponic technique]]]]
Aeroponic techniques have proven to be commercially successful for propagation, seed germination, seed potato production, tomato production, leaf crops, and micro-greens.<ref>{{Cite journal|date=2008|title=Commercial Aeroponics: The Grow Anywhere Story|url=https://sivb.org/InVitroReport/42-2/research.htm|journal=In Vitro Report|volume=44|series=Research News|publisher=The Society for In Vitro Biology|issue=2|access-date=2018-11-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131001154/https://sivb.org/InVitroReport/42-2/research.htm|archive-date=2017-01-31}}</ref> Since inventor Richard Stoner commercialized aeroponic technology in 1983, aeroponics has been implemented as an alternative to water intensive hydroponic systems worldwide.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Stoner|first=R. J.|date=Sep 22, 1983|title=Aeroponics Versus Bed and Hydroponic Propagation|url=https://www.biocontrols.com/aero28.html|journal=Florists' Review|volume=173|issue=4477|via=AgriHouse}}</ref> A major limitation of hydroponics is the fact that {{convert|1|kg}} of water can only hold {{convert|8|mg}} of air, no matter whether aerators are utilized or not.

Another distinct advantage of aeroponics over hydroponics is that any species of plants can be grown in a true aeroponic system because the microenvironment of an aeroponic can be finely controlled. Another limitation of hydroponics is that certain species of plants can only survive for so long in water before they become [[waterlogging (agriculture)|waterlogged]]. In contrast, suspended aeroponic plants receive 100% of the available oxygen and carbon dioxide to their roots zone, stems, and leaves,<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Stoner|first=R. J.|date=1983|title=Rooting in Air|journal=Greenhouse Grower|volume=1|issue=11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Aeroponic System: A Comprehensive Guide for Agriculture Enthusiasts |url=https://www.agriculturelandusa.com/2024/03/Aeroponic-system.html |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=Agriculture land usa |language=en-US}}</ref> thus accelerating biomass growth and reducing rooting times. [[NASA]] research has shown that aeroponically grown plants have an 80% increase in dry weight biomass (essential minerals) compared to hydroponically grown plants. Aeroponics also uses 65% less water than hydroponics. NASA concluded that aeroponically grown plants require ¼ the nutrient input compared to hydroponics.<ref name=":1">{{cite journal |title=Progressive Plant Growing Has Business Blooming |journal=Spinoff 2006 |date=September 2006 |url=https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20070019327 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ritter |first1=E. |last2=Angulo |first2=B. |last3=Riga |first3=P. |last4=Herrán |first4=C. |last5=Relloso |first5=J. |last6=San Jose |first6=M. |title=Comparison of hydroponic and aeroponic cultivation systems for the production of potato minitubers |journal=Potato Research |date=June 2001 |volume=44 |issue=2 |pages=127–135 |doi=10.1007/bf02410099 }}</ref> Unlike hydroponically grown plants, aeroponically grown plants will not suffer transplant shock when transplanted to soil, and offers growers the ability to reduce the spread of disease and pathogens.{{fact|date=March 2025}}

Aeroponics is also widely used in laboratory studies of plant physiology and plant pathology. Aeroponic techniques have been given special attention from NASA since a mist is easier to handle than a liquid in a zero-gravity environment.<ref name=":1" /><ref name="Suryawanshi Hydroponic Cultivation"/>