Wheatgrass - Hydroponics
Vs soil
Hydroponics Vs soil Numerous people equate hydroponics with healthy but
there is so much more to growing a plant than just the nutrients that
you feed to it.
Many of you ask about whether it is better to grow wheatgrass
hydroponically or in soil. As a certified organic wheatgrass grower, Sprout
must use a good, healthy potting mix/soil that is made of compost and
other natural materials. Here is what both NASAA and the ACO/BFA (the
2 biggest certifying organisations in Australia) have to say in their
organic standards which is the set of rules ("the bible") that all growers
must abide by to be certified organic.
NASAA Organic
Standards 4.1 Production of seed, seedlings and plant propagative
material states (Latest version- Dec 2004): Where seeds, seedlings and
plant propagative material productions takes place in containers, the
potting mix should be derived from compost leaf mould, worm casts and
clean inert material of natural origin harvested to avoid environmental
damage
ACO Organic standards section: 7.2.2. States (Latest
Version 6): Hydroponic systems whereby plants are fed principally through
soluble fertilisers in mediums that are devoid of a healthy and complex
soil ecology are not certifiable under this standard.
There's so much more to it than just the
nutrients!
A healthy soil supports a huge number of living organisms that are really
helpful for plants such as:
- Earthworms - which aerate the soil and produce casting which provide
great tucker for plants.
- Micro-organisms - millions of mini-helpers that are too small to
see such as bacteria, actinomycetes, algae, yeasts, protozoa, viruses,
phages, and nematodes which help plants in heaps of different ways
by breaking down organic matter in the soil, fixing nitrogen or even
helping to control other harmful micro-organisms.
- Fungi - There is more fungus in a gram of healthy soil than you
could count in a month! All performing even more helpful functions
such as to digest organic matter and convert solid minerals into plant
nutrients. Many fungi produce useful antibiotic substances. Some Fungi
directly support plants by connecting to the plants' roots, which
assists with nutrient supply and disease resistance.
- Invertebrates - More helpful little critters (these ones you can
see) such as insects, spiders, mites, crustaceans and other arthropods.
They can help with aeration and aid in the breakdown of organic matter.
If you are growing a plant why would you want
to leave out all those millions of little helpers!!
Healthy soil also has many other benefits such as its ability to hold
water and to support plants and the root system. On the whole, soil houses
a very complex ecosystem and we still don't understand fully how it all
works. A hydroponic system uses a very sterile environment which doesn't
allow those millions of little helpers to do their job. Pamela
Anderson of the fruit n veg world!
Have you ever wondered why a lot of the hydroponically grown stuff that
you see in the supermarket looks like the Pamela Anderson of the fruit
n veg world?
- The perfect shaped tomato, shiny and plump
- Lettuces that are crispy and juicy that have never seen a snail
or slug
- That red capsicum that looks like it's on steroids!
Note: No offence to Pamela Anderson intended.
It looks unnatural because the plants are force-fed and pumped up with
nutrients (often using synthetic fertilisers). Produce
that is grown hydroponically may be high in nutrient content but it probably
lacks many of the trace elements and minerals that you find in soil and
that are made available to the plant with the help of our millions of
little helpers.
You will not see any hydroponic tomatoes in a certified organic fruit
and vegetable shop because it is not grown naturally.
Sprout Organic Wheatgrass recognises the importance
of growing in a soil/compost based medium as opposed to hydroponically.
NASAA certified organic (Lic. number 3614). Plants and trees have been
thriving in soil for millions of years. Keep it natural!!
Sources:
Soil association of SA (Encouraging organic methods of farming and gardening)
UK Soil Association
Interesting fact
Soil biological life
Soil is not simply the physical material on the earth's surface: probably the most important component is the living organisms within it.
Healthy soil contains extremely large numbers: typically 600 million bacteria/gram (when no agro-chemicals are applied). A typical arable soil may contain 100 million bacteria/g while a desert soil, with little structure and fertility, has 'only' c.1 million bacteria/g. The rhizosphere, the thin layer immediately next to a plant root, typically has 1 million, million bacteria/g.
Diversity is also important:
in 1g of healthy soil there can be 15-20,000 different species of bacteria,
with perhaps 10,000 in a typical arable soil and 5-8000 in a desert soil.
Fungi are also very important, especially mycorrhiza which form close
associations with plant roots. Fungi greatly exceed the volume of bacteria
in soil, with 1km of fungal hyphae have been detected in 1g of soil..
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