Due to its ability to retain water and nutrients, as well as act as a buffer in the event of a sudden change in soil pH, soil is by far the most important medium supporting crop growth (Ellis et al., 1974). It gives plants the structural integrity, nutrients, water, air, and other conditions they need to flourish. Crop production is hindered by biotic (diseases and pests) and abiotic (drought, salt, nutrient inadequacy, soil pollution, poor water quality, etc.) stresses in the soil. As a result, the amount of land available per person has shrunk, and the soil’s fertility and productivity have also fallen dramatically (Lal, 2015; Lehman et al., 2015).
The elimination of poverty and hunger, along with the development of a sustainable food system, is one of the greatest problems of our time. For an ever-growing human population, however, there is a pressing worry about how to ensure future generations have access to sufficient food supplies (Alexandratrs and Bruinsma, 2012). Since there is no available land for cultivation (FAO, 2020), an increase in food production of around 60–70% is needed to properly feed this population worldwide. Environmental degradation, resource depletion, unequal food distribution, and widespread instances of malnutrition are all direct results of the exponential rise in human population. Meanwhile, arable land is being lost at an alarming rate to industrialization and urbanization, and the future of the planet’s fertile soil is in jeopardy due to degradation and the effects of climate change. Consequently, soilless farming has emerged as a vital solution. Reason being, 56% of the world’s population now resides in cities, and the number of megacities is growing at an alarming rate (Shackleton et al., 2009).
In urban locations, the soil is typically not available, or there is a scarcity of healthy land due to inappropriate geographic or topographical factors, as well as extensive road and building construction, and if there is, it may include toxins that are not good to plants. To the list of global environmental, economic, and social problems that climate change has recently added, we can add another contributor (Eileen, 2009). Indicators such as rising temperatures and erratic precipitation patterns (Gruda et al., 2019) suggest that climatic shifts may have a negative impact on the availability of natural resources (fertile land and water), posing risks to human health and the viability of societies (Bisbis and Gruda, 2018). Due to their reliance on rain-fed farming, economic stagnation, and lack of access to technological advancements and modern agricultural practices, certain underdeveloped nations in tropical locations are particularly vulnerable to climate change (Dowuona et al., 2014).
Soilless farming allows for year-round crop production in controlled environments, which can increase crop yields, decrease risk of crop failure, save water and it can be done in urban areas, making it a viable option for cities to increase their food security and reduce their carbon footprint.
To overcome these difficulties, it will be necessary to employ the cutting-edge technology that scientists are developing. Soilless farming is one of the cutting-edge technologies that has the potential to significantly reduce the impact of existing threats. It’s a game-changer in the farming industry and the best plan of action for reliable, high-yield harvests (Sardare and Admane, 2016). The term “soilless farming” refers to a method of growing crops that does not rely on soil, but rather on a solid media culture or water culture in which nutrients are added artificially to promote plant growth. Since soilless farming is a regulated system, biotic and abiotic pressures can both be mitigated.
The ability to combat escalating global food issues and malnutrition, as well as make more effective use of and management of natural resources, ensures ecological sustainability with a steady supply of healthy food throughout the year. It’s a fantastic method of cultivating crops for any country dealing with a shortage of farmland, a volatile environment, or a burgeoning population of hungry natives (Sardare and Admane, 2013). The plants were grown in a controlled setting using a variety of soilless cultivation techniques. Although, hydroponics, aeroponics, aquaponics, and solid media cultures are the primary methods of soilless agricultural technologies (Texier, 2013), and each of these methods will be addressed below.
Many different types of food, sauces, flowers, medicinal plants, and fodder are cultivated in soilless cultures (Sharma et al., 2018). Improved crop yields and nutrient content from soilless cultivation have been documented (Majid et al., 2021). This has the potential to help address global food security and malnutrition issues. While progress is being made in rich countries to boost efficiency and output, adoption of these methods by farmers in underdeveloped countries is still in its infancy due to the need for technical expertise.
Although the practise of soil-less farming has deep roots in human history (going back to ancient civilizations), not enough is known about it. Soilless farming was practised by many ancient civilizations, as evidenced by the Aztecs, Egyptian hieroglyphics, and the hanging garden of Babylon. In 1627, Sir Francis Bacon published Sylva Sylvarum, which presented a groundbreaking method for cultivating plants without soil. In 1699, John Woodward presented a more thorough book on the topic of water culture. He found that plants and vegetables grown in less pure water grew better than those planted in distilled water, and he attributed this to minerals in the water that originated in the soil (he was a fellow of the Royal Society of England). This soil-water combination eventually evolved into the first artificial hydroponic fertilizer solution (Waiba et al., 2019).
This method of farming is most commonly practiced in greenhouses because of the greater environmental control it provides and the potential for greater harvests. A few advantages of farming in soil-free conditions are as follows.
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