Crops can blight, animals can get diseases. I don’t know much about hydroponics but I know that bacteria are a concern. What food source is the most reliable, the least likely to produce less food than expected?

    • Blake [he/him]@feddit.uk
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      1 year ago

      Aeroponics is really vulnerable to power outages and disease is still a concern, it’s a lot more expensive and vulnerable to supply chain disruption too, and consumes power power than just growing stuff in a polytunnel

        • Blake [he/him]@feddit.uk
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          1 year ago

          It’s just clearly worse than growing vegetables in a field, really

          supply chain isn’t really an issue once you’ve got your setup going

          Til you run out of phosphorus, or potassium, or whatever.

            • Blake [he/him]@feddit.uk
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              1 year ago

              Obviously it’s not just one field that you use again and again. All you need to do to replenish the nutrients in the field is to just let it hang out and don’t do anything with it for a while, and use some other areas in the meantime.

              Much, much more stable, renewable and reliable than aeroponics. It’s a cool concept but it’s just nowhere near at the level of competing with good ol fashioned dirt yet!

                • Blake [he/him]@feddit.uk
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                  1 year ago

                  Absolute nonsense, sorry. Horizontal farming is more than capable of feeding everyone on earth today, and could sustain a population even ten times what we currently have - we’d need to give up meat, of course - which we should be doing anyways.

                  Simply leaving a field alone will not replenish it with all the nutrients a crop needs.

                  I mean, it will eventually - it might take a while, sure, but there’s so much land, and with sustainable farming practices (good crop rotation, organic farming, etc.) then soil erosion and nutrient depletion are significantly reduced anyways. It’s definitely much, much easier and significantly less reliant on synthetic nutrients than hydroponics or aeroponics. A lot less work, too!

      • xeddyx@lemmy.nz
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        1 year ago

        True, but I mentioned oxygen in reference to the roots. While the leaves use CO2 for photosynthesis, roots benefit from oxygen for respiration, which is vital for nutrient uptake and overall health. In aeroponics, plant roots are suspended in air and intermittently misted with a nutrient solution, which allows them to receive ample oxygen, promoting healthy and rapid growth. I’m not aware if deliberately introducing CO2 in this mix would provide any benefits, but that would be a interesting experiment I guess.

    • Fizz@lemmy.nz
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      1 year ago

      You can’t really generate much calories with aeroponics. I thought they could only grow saladlike foods.

      • xeddyx@lemmy.nz
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        1 year ago

        Aeroponics is not limited to just salad-like foods. While leafy greens and herbs are common choices due to their relatively fast growth and smaller size, a variety of crops can be grown using aeroponic systems. Here’s a breakdown:

        1. Leafy Greens and Herbs: These are among the most popular crops for aeroponic systems. Examples include lettuce, kale, arugula, spinach, basil, cilantro, and mint.

        2. Fruits and Vegetables: Many fruits and vegetables can also be grown aeroponically, such as strawberries, bell peppers, cucumbers, and tomatoes. However, the setup might need to account for the additional weight and support these plants require as they grow and bear fruit.

        3. Root Crops: Even though aeroponic systems expose plant roots to air, it’s possible to grow root crops like potatoes, carrots, and radishes. The roots develop in the dark environment of the aeroponic chamber.

        4. Grains: While less common, some grains might also be grown in aeroponic systems under controlled conditions. However, the scale and practicality of doing so would be different from traditional soil-based farming.

        5. Medicinal Plants: Some growers use aeroponics to cultivate medicinal plants because the method allows for a high degree of control over nutrient delivery, potentially optimizing the concentration of desired compounds.

        6. Ornamental Plants: While the primary focus of aeroponics is food production, the system can also be used for ornamental plants, especially in research settings where specific growth conditions are required.

        That said, the choice of crops for aeroponic systems often depends on the specific goals of the grower, the design of the system, and available resources. While a wide range of plants can be grown aeroponically, the system’s setup and management might vary depending on the plant’s requirements.