"Hydroponic Cultivation is the Answer" Boosting Income for Farms in Chungnam

Hydroponic Cultivation, Growing Crops in Artificial Cultivation Systems
Farmers Introducing Method See Income Increase Due to Higher Crop Yields
Chungnam Agricultural Research & Extension Services "Continuous Expansion of Hydroponic Cultivation Adoption and Distribution"

It has been found that the use of hydroponic cultivation methods in farms has a clear effect on increasing crop yields and income. Hydroponic cultivation is a farming method where crops are grown not in soil but in artificial cultivation frames, with a nutrient-mixed liquid supplied to them.

According to the Chungnam Agricultural Research and Extension Services on the 15th, since 2019, the ‘Facility Horticulture Hydroponic Multi-Crop Expansion Pilot Project’ has been underway in Chungnam. The target crops include seven types such as leaf perilla, leafy vegetables, green onions, and dried chili peppers, with pilot projects conducted at 32 sites across 9 cities and counties.

Interior view of a green onion farm greenhouse in Seocheon adopting the hydroponic cultivation method. Provided by Chungnam Provincial Agricultural Research and Extension Services

The effects of hydroponic cultivation in the pilot project were also clear in numerical terms. For example, in March 2022, a green onion farm in Seocheon participating in the pilot project installed hydroponic facilities in a 670㎡ green onion facility greenhouse and started production. As a result, the yield increased from 2,000 kg to 5,100 kg (2.5 times), and income excluding operating costs rose from 11 million KRW to 33 million KRW (3 times). This was thanks to adopting the hydroponic cultivation method and increasing the number of green onion harvests from twice a year to six times a year.

A lettuce farm in Buyeo also changed its cultivation method to a mist-type hydroponic system, enabling it to earn annual income in the hundreds of millions of KRW. Through the pilot project, the farm invested 150 million KRW to install a mist-type hydroponic system in a 3,300㎡ facility greenhouse. The mist-type hydroponic system supplies nutrients (nutrient solution) by spraying them with a sprayer onto the roots exposed to the air after fixing the crops in frames.

With the mist-type hydroponic system, this farm increased its harvest frequency from only three times a year to ten times a year, and the yield rose from 29,700 kg to 99,000 kg. Most importantly, the increased yield led to a fivefold increase in farm income, from 40 million KRW to 200 million KRW, according to the Chungnam Agricultural Research and Extension Services.

In Geumsan, a leaf perilla farm installed hydroponic facilities in a 1,500㎡ greenhouse, resulting in an increase in yield from 4,800 kg to 7,000 kg (1.5 times) and annual income from 34 million KRW to 54 million KRW (1.6 times).

In Asan, a dried chili pepper farm that introduced hydroponic facilities in a greenhouse also saw its yield increase by 1.9 times (1,200 kg to 2,300 kg) and income rise by 1.5 times (24 million KRW to 36 million KRW) thanks to hydroponic cultivation.

Hydroponic cultivation is a farming method where crops are planted in an artificial growing frame and nurtured by supplying a nutrient-mixed liquid. Provided by Chungnam Provincial Agricultural Research and Extension Services

The Chungnam Agricultural Research and Extension Services plans to continue the pilot project this year as hydroponic cultivation methods have led to visible results.

Additionally, to promote sustainable farming and reduce operating costs for farms, they will expand the dissemination of technology for reusing waste nutrient solutions and pursue a plan to lease hydroponic greenhouses to young entrepreneurial farmers through the Chungnam-type Mart Farm Academy, which has been operating since last year.

As of 2022, the area of facility vegetable greenhouses in the Chungnam region is 7,850 hectares, ranking third nationwide after Gyeongnam (10,023 hectares) and Gyeongbuk (9,044 hectares).

However, the hydroponic cultivation area is only 485 hectares, accounting for 6.2% of the total facility vegetable greenhouse area. Of this, 96% is occupied by three crops: strawberries, tomatoes, and paprika.

Kim Si-hwan, head of the Technology Extension Division at Chungnam Agricultural Research and Extension Services, said, “Hydroponic cultivation appears to have a clear effect on increasing crop yields and farm income. While hydroponic cultivation is not a mandatory condition in smart farms, it is basically necessary to adopt hydroponic cultivation to maximize input efficiency.”

Meanwhile, hydroponic cultivation has excellent advantages such as mitigating continuous cropping obstacles and pest and disease damage, precise and efficient nutrient and water management, increased yield and improved quality, labor reduction, decreased fertilizer and pesticide use, and ease of eco-friendly production.

On the other hand, it shows limitations in spreading among farms due to high initial investment costs and lack of cultivation manuals. Currently, hydroponic cultivation is mainly practiced for some crops such as strawberries, tomatoes, and paprika.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.