Hydroponics Latest Update: PAU Bags National Patent for Pot-Based Hybrid Hydroponic Technology

In inventing indigenous hybrid hydroponics technology, the first "swadeshi method in soilless farming in India," the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) in Ludhiana has established itself as a pioneer after receiving the national patent, the university said in a statement on Tuesday.

According to a letter from the Indian government's patent office, the inventor of an “improved water and nutrient perforation and re-circulation system for pot-based substrate hydroponics" has been granted a national patent.

An innovative pot-based Hybrid Hydroponics Technology (HHT) was designed, developed, and tested for better plant growth, more water, and nutrient savings, and higher yield inside a semi-automatic micro-climate-controlled greenhouse as part of research led by Dr. V. P. Sethi, professor, and head, department of mechanical engineering, PAU.

The Substrate Hydroponics Technique (SHT) using soilless porous root media and the Shallow Water Pond Hydroponics Technology (SWPHT) are two independently existing hydroponics technologies that are combined into the HHT to provide a more potent single hybrid technology.

The newly developed soilless technology was put to the test by growing cucumber, tomato, and capsicum for two years. It was discovered that this method produced much faster growth and a higher yield than the Dutch and Israeli grow bag-based (non-recirculation type) and pot-based (bato bucket) soilless technologies.

Urban rooftop vertical gardening and large-scale commercial vertical gardening could both be revolutionized by the developed low-cost technology. It is important to highlight that Dr. Sethi was also invited by the University of Guelph (UoG), Ontario, Canada, to give a special lecture on this innovative HHT soilless technology in 2017.

This conference was well attended by Canadian scientists and greenhouse producers, and it was well welcomed. Dr. Sethi received a certificate of recognition from the UoG for his groundbreaking work.