Evaluating the role of vertical hydroponics in reducing water usage compared to horizontal hydroponics

An experiment was conducted at the Department of Soil and Water Conservation Engineering, SVCAET & RS, IGKV, Raipur which focuses on water and water use efficiency in hydroponics. Two hydroponic systems i.e. vertical and horizontal hydroponic systems were used to evaluate the performance of the systems with respect to total yield and water. Plants were grown in nurseries before being transplanted in a vertical or horizontal system. In these systems, nutrient-rich water was constantly flowing over the plant roots. The results of the study showed that various growth parameters like average plant height, number of leaves and stem diameter were found to be maximum at 7, 14 and 28 days of transplantation in the vertical system as compared to the horizontal system. The study also revealed that the water used by plants was seen to be a minimum of 1100 liters in the vertical system and 1500 liters in the horizontal system. Similarly, water use efficiency was found to be 0.0173 kg/litre in the vertical system and 0.0107 kg/litre in the horizontal system. The total production in the vertical system was recorded at 19 kg while in the horizontal system it was 16 kg. In the overall scenario, the vertical system with nutrient film technology is more water-efficient, requiring less water and nutrients, while also promoting plant growth and yield. These findings may contribute to more sustainable and resource-efficient hydroponic farming practices.