Middle School Curriculum

Unit 9: Plant Science

Lesson 9: The Use of Hydroponics in Growing Plants

Student Objectives

1. Explain the concept of hydroponics.

2. List the three major nutrient requirements.

3. Identify the parts of a hydroponic unit.

4. List four general facts about soilless farming.

5. List three advantages of growing plants hydroponically.

Agriculture QCC: 13, 14, 18, 20, 24

Language Arts QCC:…………………………………………………………………………………6-71, 74

7-67, 70

8-67, 70

Mathematics QCC:……………………………………………………………………………….…6-1, 8, 48

7-1, 13

8-1, 15

References

Herren, Ray V. Exploring Agriscience. Albany, NY: Delmar Publishers, Inc.

Hydroponics: An Introduction to Soilless Agriculture. (Video). Columbus: Ohio Agricultural Curriculum Materials Service.

Lee, Jasper S. Agriscience Discovery. Danville, IL: Interstate Publishers, Inc.

Morgan, Elizabeth M. Agriscience Explorations. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall Interstate

Equipment, Supplies, Materials

hydroponic unit

oasis cubes

seeds

nutrients

TV/VCR

overhead projector

Transparencies 7GA 4.71 and 7GA 4.72

Teaching Procedure

Introduction and Mental Set

This lesson defines hydroponics and discusses what is needed to grow plants hydroponically, equipment necessary to set up a hydroponics unit, general facts about hydroponics, and the advantages of growing plants hydroponically.

1. Show video on hydroponics.

2. Demonstrate a working hydroponic system.

Assignment

1. Have students research the history of growing plants without soil.

2. Have students design a system for growing plants hydroponically.

3. Have students read an article about a successful hydroponic farming operation.

Discussion

1. Question: What is hydroponics? Display and discuss transparency 7GA 4.7.1.

Answer: Hydroponics is the science of growing plants in water rather than soil.

9

Georgia Middle School Agricultural Education Curriculum, Unit 9 Lesson 9

Updated May 2004


2. Question: What is needed to grow plants hydroponically?

Answer:

 water

 nutrients

 growing media (e.g., oasis cubes, sand, sawdust)

 pump

 reservoir

3. Question: What nutrients are needed for a hydroponic unit?

Answer:

 soluble fertilizer

 calcium nitrate

 magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt)

4. Question: What are the parts of a hydroponic unit? (draw or show)

Answer:

 submersible pump

 hose

 header pipe

 cutters or PVC pipe

 drainage trough

 reservoir

5. Question: How does a hydroponics system work?

Answer: The nutrient solution is pumped from the reservoir through a hose to the header pipe. There, the solution is distributed to the gutters or PVC pipes. The nutrients then flow down (across the root area) to the drainage trough. From there, the water solution flows back to the reservoir to complete the cycle. Display and Discuss transparency 7GA 4.7.2.

General Facts About Hydroponics:

 Any plant can be grown in a hydroponic system.

 About one fourth as much water is needed as in conventional farming.

 The production of plants can be six times as great as conventional growth.

 Almost any type of hydroponic system will produce acceptable growth.

 Hydroponic systems will be used to grow food on U.S. space stations.

 Construction of a hydroponic system is easy and inexpensive.

Advantages of Hydroponics:

 The taste, quality, appearance, uniformity, and shelf life of hydroponically grown vegetables are superior.

 No sterilization of growing media is required.

 Nutrition is easily controlled within the reservoir.

 No weeds or soil diseases exist, and cultivation is unnecessary.

 Uniform water is available to plants.

 Less water and fertilizer is needed.

 Root zone heating is possible by heating the nutrient solution.

9

Georgia Middle School Agricultural Education Curriculum, Unit 9 Lesson 9

Updated May 2004


Other Activities

1. Visit a greenhouse or research facility that uses hydroponics.

2. Have students design a hydroponics system that could be used in a space station with no gravity.

3. Test and adjust the pH of the nutrient solution.

4. Conduct an agriscience project with hydroponics.

5. Have students bring in seeds to be planted hydroponically.

6. Construct a small hydroponics unit or obtain a hydroponics kit.


ACADEMIC CONNECTIONS

Language Arts

Middle School Connections in Agriculture Education

Language Arts QCC: Grade 6-71, 74

7-67, 70

8-67, 70

Name____________________________________ Period____ Date______________

Imagine that you have a friend in Ireland who is very interested in agriculture and especially in crop production. Write a letter to your friend in Ireland and explain hydroponics to him or her. Remember to include the parts of a letter, including a greeting, opening, body, and closing.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


ACADEMIC CONNECTIONS

Mathematics

Middle School Connections in Agriculture Education

Mathematics QCC: Grade 6- 1, 8, 48

7- 1, 13

8- 1, 15

Name____________________________________ Period____ Date______________

1. The production of plants in hydroponics can be 6 times as great as conventional growth. If you produce 200 marigold plants during the school year through conventional growth, how many marigold plants could you have produced through hydroponic growth?

2. If the marigolds you produced were worth $2.00 a plant, what would your profit be for conventional growth?

3. If the marigolds you produced were worth $1.50 a plant, what would your profit be if you grew the marigolds hydroponically?


Answers:

1. 1,200 marigold plants

2. $400.00

3. $1,800.00


Summary

Conclusion

Plants can be grown without soil using hydroponics. Although hydroponics has been a science for hundreds of years, it has recently become an accepted form of crop production. It can be a highly profitable form of producing crops, especially fresh vegetables. Hydroponics could also be the answer to many of the world's land and food shortage problems.

Evaluation

Written quiz

9

Georgia Middle School Agricultural Education Curriculum, Unit 9 Lesson 9

Updated May 2004


7GA 4.7.1

HYDROPONICS

What is hydroponics?

 Hydroponics is the science of growing plants in water rather than soil.

What is needed to grow plants hydroponically?

 water

 nutrients

 plant support system

 PUMP

 reservoir

What nutrients are needed for a hydroponic unit?

 soluble fertilizer

 calcium nitrate

 magnesium sulfate

9

Georgia Middle School Agricultural Education Curriculum, Unit 9 Lesson 9

Updated May 2004


7GA 4.7.1

HYDROPONIC FACTS

 Any plant can be grown in a hydroponic system.

 About one fourth as much water is needed as in conventional farming.

 The production of plants can be six times as great as conventional growth.

 Almost any type of hydroponic system will produce acceptable growth.

 Hydroponic systems will be used to grow food on U.S. space stations.

< Construction of a hydroponic system is easy and inexpensive

9

Georgia Middle School Agricultural Education Curriculum, Unit 9 Lesson 9

Updated May 2004