Innovative Soilless Culture Techniques for Horticultural Crops: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Soilless culture, a modern greenhouse cultivation technology, has rapidly developed in the past 30-40 years and offers a closed-loop system with several benefits, including the recycling of 85-90 percent of irrigation water. As the world population continues to grow at a rate of over 1%, the reduction in land availability per capita for soil-based agriculture has become a major problem, particularly in countries like India with a high population density. Soilless farming offers a viable alternative for growing high-quality vegetables, fruits, and flowers year-round on a variety of substrates, requiring limited space. This approach also aims to eradicate greenhouse soil-related problems such as soil-borne infections, poor soil fertility, and salinity. With several advantages over traditional soil crops, including shorter growth times, year-round production, and fewer diseases and pests, soilless farming comprises various methods such as hydroponics, aeroponics, and aquaponics. The technique has the potential to improve people's lives and boost economic growth by encouraging innovative businesses to engage in agriculture. Therefore, soilless farming has gained traction as an innovative solution to address land scarcity issues while producing high-quality crops sustainably.