Hydroponics: an innovative solution for desert countries

ArabiaWeather - Hydroponics in the desert is considered one of the innovative agricultural developments that aims to achieve the sustainability of agriculture and ensure the provision of food in areas with difficult climatic conditions. This technology provides an advanced solution to overcome water shortages, improve weak soils, and withstand high thermal conditions in deserts, enabling the cultivation of a wide range of crops with high efficiency.

The desert is a harsh environment, characterized by high temperatures, lack of water, and sandy soil poor in nutrients. Despite these challenges, hydroponic techniques have been developed to allow crops to be grown in this previously unarable environment.

Hydroponics enables highly efficient use of water, saving resources and energy, and is considered a sustainable solution to increase food production in the desert and meet the needs of a growing population.

Hydroponics methods in the desert

There are several different methods of hydroponics in deserts, and the choice between them depends on factors such as the availability of water, available resources, and surrounding climatic conditions.

1. Fog Harvesting: This method is used to extract water from fog formed in the desert, where the fog is directed through special nets or nets to collect water droplets and direct them to the irrigation system for plants.
2. Hydroponics farming: This method relies on growing plants without soil, where they are placed in nutrient solutions that contain the necessary nutrients. This method offers efficient use of water as the used aqueous solution is recycled and used again.
3. Floating Raft System: Plants are placed on floating panels that float on the surface of the water. The plants are fed by purifying the surrounding water, which contributes to their good growth and improves water use.
4. Urban spray farming (Aeroponics): In this method, the plant roots are sprayed with the nutrient solution precisely in the form of a spray. This method is water efficient and promotes even and rapid plant growth.

Challenges faced by desert hydroponics

• Water scarcity: Water scarcity is the main challenge in the desert, where water availability is limited. Successful hydroponics requires the use of effective techniques to save and sustain water, such as water recycling and the use of smart irrigation systems.
• Poor sandy soil: The desert is characterized by alkaline sandy soil that is not suitable for plant growth. It requires the use of arable soil or reliance on soilless farming techniques, such as hydroponics, to provide the appropriate conditions for plant growth.
• Harsh climate conditions: The desert is characterized by extremely high temperatures during the day and low temperatures at night, which poses a challenge to plant growth. This requires the use of cooling and shading techniques and protecting plants from extreme climate changes.

Opportunities provided by desert hydroponics

• Providing food: Hydroponics cultivation in the desert contributes to providing local agricultural crops, and thus enhances food security in areas that suffer from lack of agricultural production.
• Providing job opportunities: Hydroponics cultivation in the desert can create new local job opportunities, as operating these technologies requires specialized experience in agricultural project management.
• Environmental sustainability: Hydroponics cultivation in the desert contributes to reducing negative environmental impacts on the desert, reducing water leakage, and relying on renewable water resources such as groundwater and pure recycled water.
• Economic development: Hydroponics cultivation in the desert can be a source of economic development, as it can lead to the expansion of the agricultural sector, provide job opportunities, increase productivity, and improve agricultural exports.
• Technology and Innovation: Hydroponics in the desert encourages innovation and the development of new technologies to improve water use efficiency and increase plant productivity. This provides the opportunity to explore advanced technologies such as vertical farming, solar farming and the application of artificial intelligence in hydroponics.

Advantages of hydroponic farming in the desert

• Improving water use efficiency: Hydroponics in the desert is more water efficient than traditional agriculture. This can be achieved by using water purification, rationalization and recycling techniques effectively.
• Solar agriculture: Solar energy can be utilized in hydroponics farming in the desert by using solar energy systems to operate irrigation systems and provide the electricity necessary for modern agricultural techniques.
• Agricultural Diversity: A variety of plants can be grown in a desert hydroponic system, including vegetables, fruits and medicinal herbs. Growing fish and shrimp in conjunction with plants in an integrated aquaponic system can also be explored.
• Contributing to preserving biodiversity: Hydroponic farming systems in the desert can be used to preserve biodiversity and breed rare and endangered plants, which contributes to maintaining the environmental balance in the region.
• Socio-economic sustainability: Hydroponics in the desert can have a positive impact on the local community by providing local employment opportunities, thus promoting self-sufficiency and local capacity development. Hydroponics in the desert encourages sustainable economic development, improves the standard of living in desert areas and reduces poverty levels.
• Providing sustainable food sources: Hydroponics in the desert is a sustainable way to provide food sources, as crops can be grown throughout the year without relying on external climatic factors. Artificial lighting, temperature and humidity control techniques are used to provide optimal conditions for plant growth, ensuring continuity of food production throughout the year.
• Environmental sustainability: Hydroponics farming in the desert is considered more environmentally sustainable than traditional agriculture, as it reduces the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers, which protects the soil and groundwater from pollution.
• Research and Innovation: The desert hydroponic system encourages research and innovation in areas such as improving irrigation systems, developing more drought-resistant varieties, and using artificial intelligence and remote sensing technologies to improve production efficiency.

Source: mshtly