Bamboo Hydroponics System: Cutting Edge with Sustainability

Hydroponics nowadays is becoming a high earning potential business as many individuals and companies try to do farming in hydroponics due to its impressive feedback. Hydroponics is now spreading in the world at a high speed. As it is also done in cities and urban areas, its diversion is very fast. Now the new generation wants to do farming with the new technologies and less manual work. Bamboo hydroponics system is one of the kind.

Now to increase the sustainability of these technologies, one way to make these nature friendly and lowering the cost of setup. By doing these things more can operate these technologies also small farmers and new entrepreneurs take interest. Bamboo hydroponic system is one of the good steps in the involvement of hydroponic system as it reduces the set up cost and provides proper advantages of hydroponic system.

Table of Contents

Impressive Way to Decrease Set Up Cost:

As the initial cost of the hydroponic set up is very high then the bamboo hydroponics system and it makes the investor think more about this. This is a way or we can say a natural way to decrease the set up cost. This is by using bamboo in the place of PVC and plastic pipes. Bamboo we all know is a very important plant because it has multipurpose uses like it is used as fodder for cattles. Bamboo is used in basket making, house making, dry bamboo can be used as fuel wood. It is found naturally or if it is not then it can also be purchased.

Addition of Sustainability and Durability in Hydroponic System:

As we see the bamboo is much stronger than those PVC or Plastic pipes as those can get damaged during mechanical work or other works in the hydroponic system. If there’s any breakage in the pv pipes it can cost a large amount and it can increase the setup cost. On the other hand bamboos are very hardy and stronger then these so it can handle or tolerate any strikes and cannot be damaged easily. So we can say that bamboo hydroponics system is more durable and sustainable then normal hydroponic system.

Bamboo as an Alternative in Hydroponics:

Use in Supply of Liquids:

When we can diversify the use of natural segments in our new technology it increases the availability of resources and also reduces the cost of production. In hydroponics the supply of liquids for example, water or the liquid having all the nutrient ingredients which are required by the plant is taken by those bamboo rather than using pipes of plastic and PVC. This is also a step towards the environment and to save our ecology as we are excluding the microplastics from the system and replacing plastic with natural bamboo. The flexible pipes can be connected to the bamboos from the tank or water reservoir and those bamboos are connected to the plants from where they get the nutrients.

Growing Containers:

To grow plants in hydroponics first of all the seeds are grown in an indoor nursery whose containers are commonly plug trays or pro trays and these can be replaced by containers made up of bamboo. It is an incredible art of using bamboo in converting it to the containers in which we can do the same work we can do for which we use plastic trays. This will increase the jobs of those people who work with bamboo and make these kinds of structures as the demands will increase in the market. Also in hydroponics the containers that hold the plants are made up of bamboo.

Supporting Structures:

In hydroponics some plants need support to hold their fruits as their stem does not have enough strength. Bamboo can be used to hold the plants as it is a good alternative. Also bamboo poles are used in making the hydroponic setup rather than using costly steel and aluminum. Supporting structures can be made by bamboo as it is strong and available almost everywhere. By making use of bamboo it will reduce the cost of production.

Biofiltration:

One thing to be noted down is that bamboo hydroponics system acts as a biofilter for water and excess nutrition which is not required by the plant. Its internodes are visibly seen and there are presence of roots in their internodes. These act as a biofilter and absorb the excess nutrients and act as a balance regulation in the hydroponic setup.

Component	Bamboo Application	Benefits
Support Structures	Bamboo poles or stakes for trellises and vertical gardens	Sturdy, sustainable support for vining crops, maximizes space
Growth Medium Support	Bamboo frames or grids for supporting growing mediums	Provides stability for roots, promotes healthy growth
Containers and Planters	Bamboo containers or planters for holding growing mediums	Sustainable alternative to plastic pots, durable and versatile
Aeration Tubes	Bamboo tubes with perforations for oxygenating nutrient solution	Promotes healthy root development, prevents anaerobic conditions
Decorative Elements	Bamboo screens, borders, or accents for aesthetic enhancement	Adds natural, tranquil ambiance to hydroponic setups
Root Support	Bamboo grids or mats to support plant roots	Prevents root entanglement, facilitates nutrient uptake

Benefits of Using Bamboo in Hydroponics:

Advantages of Bamboo Hydroponics System
Image Source: springer link

Contribution Towards Environment:

As we see nowadays pollution in the environment is becoming a very big issue as it causes problems to humans, animals, plants or we can say to the whole planet and one of the major reasons behind this is the growing use of plastic almost everywhere. As we know it is non biodegradable and also a source of carbon emission. By making alternatives to these kinds of things can save the earth and in hydroponics if we use bamboo rather than plastic it may be a contribution towards nature and contribution in saving nature. But in the case of bamboo it can be used as fuel wood and if it can be thrown then it will decompose.

Reduces Cost of Production by using Bamboo Hydroponic System:

Bamboo is cheaper than those pipes of plastics and PVC which are to be purchased from the market. High cost of production is a headache and it lowers the motivation of the grower. To lower down the cost of production it is better to use bamboo in structural framework and wherever it can be used. We have discussed above how we can use bamboo in different places in a hydroponic setup.

High Durability:

As bamboo is much stronger then these plastics. It is more durable than plastic pipes which can lead to a more sustainable and durable setup. High durability helps in reducing the maintenance cost and help in the management of grower if plastic is replaced by such durable bamboo . In India bamboo is used in house making in many areas mostly in the villages and those structures are very stronger than other things.

Health Perspective of Using Bamboo Hydroponics System:

Researchers are doing a great job to increase the lifespan of humans as many researches are against the use of plastics as now microplastic becomes a major issue. As in hydroponics when plants are grown in plastic containers and also the nutrient solution is made in those plastic containers at some point there may be chances of microplastic being gone in the plant system through the nutrient solution and water taken by the plants. By this it can also enter our system and cause health issues. So bamboo is natural and safer than these plastic pipes and containers.

Less Chemical Exposure in Bamboo Hydroponics System:

Other than plastic there are many other things used in hydroponics which can be replaced by bamboo. One is the PVC pipes and these are coated with chemicals and with time these are leached with water and the nutrient solution gets mixed with these harmful chemicals. And with many connections it will reach us by the system.

These are some found in these pvc pipes and plastic pipes.

Chemical	Description	Health Concerns
Phthalates	Plasticizers used to increase flexibility	Endocrine disruption, reproductive issues, developmental abnormalities
Bisphenol-A (BPA)	Found in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins	Hormone disruption, reproductive problems
Lead	Impurity in older pipes or recycled materials	Neurological damage, especially in children
Chlorinated Compounds	Formed during PVC production	Highly toxic, persistent environmental pollutants
Stabilizers	Added to improve performance and durability	Potential health and environmental impacts
Flame Retardants	Added to reduce flammability	Concerns over toxicity and environmental persistence

Disadvantages of Using Bamboo in Hydroponics:

Disadvantage	Description
Rotting	Bamboo is susceptible to rotting when constantly exposed to water, which can lead to instability in the system and nutrient contamination.
pH Imbalance	Bamboo may alter the pH balance of the nutrient solution as it decomposes, potentially affecting plant growth.
Nutrient Competition	Bamboo may absorb nutrients from the hydroponic solution, leading to nutrient imbalances and deficiencies in plants.
Decomposition	Decomposing bamboo can release compounds and organic matter into the nutrient solution, causing clogs or promoting the growth of algae and harmful bacteria.
Invasive Species Concerns	Some bamboo species can be invasive if not properly contained, posing a threat to local ecosystems by outcompeting native plants.

Comparison Between use of Bamboo and Plastic in Hydroponics:

Benefits	Bamboo	Plastic Pipes
Sustainability	Renewable resource, grows rapidly	Made from non-renewable fossil fuels
Biodegradability	Decomposes naturally at end of life cycle	Persists in environment for hundreds of years
Carbon Sequestration	Absorbs carbon dioxide during growth	Contributes to greenhouse gas emissions
Strength and Durability	Strong and durable	May degrade over time, requiring replacements
Aesthetic Appeal	Natural and visually appealing	May lack aesthetic appeal
Cost-effectiveness	Long-term cost savings due to durability	Initial costs may vary, potential replacements
Reduced Chemical Exposure	Does not leach harmful chemicals	May release harmful substances over time

Conclusion:

We have discussed above various points on using bamboo or a hydroponic system made up of bamboo then of the usual plastic. These are very interesting to add our nature friendly things to new generation technology to make the new technologies far better with respect to the environment. However an experienced and skilled person is required in doing such work as it is more technical work. Without knowledge installing the setup can cause major loss issues and with proper guidance it will become a boon.

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