Defence Institute of Bio-Energy Research (DIBER), a constituent
laboratory of DRDO has started work on soil less cultivation as early
as 1980s and successfully standardized and customized technology of
hydroponics cultivation of various crops. This customized hydroponics
technology ensures year round vegetable cultivation with higher
yield. In comparison to conventional agriculture, upto 50% water gets
conserved in this system, and there is absolutely no use of pesticide and
weedicides, thus ensuring no residual toxicity. Furthermore, multiple
crops viz., spinach, coriander, tomato, cucumber, brinjal, parsley,
pakchoy, broccoli, strawberry, bitter gourd, sponge gourd, etc. can be
grown in a single nutrient solution. The entire system is low cost, low
maintenance and environment friendly. Various vegetables along with
strawberry and grasses have been grown successfully in hydroponics
from Auli to Anatartica. Nutrient composition suitable for wide range of
vegetables has also been developed by the institute. This paper studies
the technology of hydroponics in detail along with the efforts made
at DIBER which includes the standardization of this technology. It is
envisaged that experience gained in successful cultivation of various
crops in hydroponics using single nutrient solution at various altitudes
through research stations of this institute like Haldwani (foot hill),
Pithoragarh (5000’ msl), Auli (9000’ msl) will help in customization of
this technology considering the shrinking land and water resources
