Year: 2021 | Month: December | Volume 8 | Issue 2
Prospects of Natural Fibre Crop Based Plant Growth Substrate in Soilless Crop Production System: A Review
Nilimesh Mridha
D.P. Ray
Atul Singha
Manjunatha
B.S.
Sanchita Biswas
Biplab Saha
A.N. Roy
D.B. Shakyawar
DOI:10.30954/2347-9655.02.2021.9
Abstract:
The human population in the world will reach about 9 billion by the year 2050, so food security is one of the pivotal themes of the new millennium which is the most urgent challenge for the agricultural sector. Food production relies on the availability of resources, such as land, freshwater, fossil energy and nutrients. Due to problems such as pests and diseases in soil, lack of suitable soils or great variations in soil types and shortage of fresh water for irrigation, using soilless culture systems for vegetable production are increasing in the world. In a country like India, due to rapid urbanization, adoption of soilless culture is gaining momentum for improving the yield and quality of the produce. Various reasons persist for the continued growth of soilless production as part of agriculture. Hydroponic is a method of growing plants without soil using water, other soilless media, and nutrient solutions. Several characteristics are considered in selecting materials for soilless growth media such as good draining, high water holding capacity, high ionic exchange capacity and their devoid of weeds, pests, and pathogens. The material used in the media should also be inexpensive, accessible, and preferably organic to be better recycled in nature. Natural Fibre Crop Based Plant Growth Media are lighter in weight, biodegradable, eco-friendly, sustainable and cheaper compared to currently available material like Zeolite, Perlite, Rockwool etc. This review explores the prospects of natural fibre based substrate and their waste by-products like coir, wool waste, pineapple leaf fibre waste, banana pseudostem fibre waste, wood fibre etc., in a holistic manner. More involvement of substrate producers and end-users in educational and planning efforts could improve the quality of growing media by introducing added-value characteristics. This review attempted to provide an overview of hydroponic systems, soilless culture, their types, various popular substrate used and prospects of inexpensive, locally available natural fibre crop based growth media or substrate for soilless crop production systems.
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