Wednesday, July 3, 2013

A Study On Fresh Hydroponic Lettuce In Alaska

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By Freda Watts


Alaska is a very cold state as it is near the polar region of the northern hemisphere. The cold climate cannot allow for all year growing of crops. The inhabitants of this region find it hard to cope with the situation of having to go through seasons which they cannot produce vegetables of their own. Recent fresh hydroponic lettuce in Alaska developments have seen elimination of this problem since now there is a new way of doing things, hydroponic.

It is common in most parts of the United States especially Alaska which is a cold state bordering Canada to the north. It is usually cold not to allow most forms of agriculture. The region had been buying vegetables from other states but now it makes its own lettuce among other fast growing plants like tomatoes, pepper and kale among many others. The commonest however are lettuce and they are discussed herein.

Lettuce is the common vegetable grown with this method. It is normally used at home as a salad and vegetable. It contains vitamins which is an important mineral in the body. This practice is appropriate in this for many reasons. Some of the reasons making it preferable than common growing of these crops are discussed herein below.

One main reason to have necessitated production of fresh hydroponic lettuce in Alaska using this biological formula is because of the climate. Alaska is so cold most of the time during the year. With this weather the soil is never productive. The lettuce would always be affected by the cold weather leading to low quality or even dying of the plant. With the introduction of water planting or soil-less planting as some may call it, growing of this vegetable as been a possibility.

The best part of this practice is that since it had raised issues over the quality of the plants produced, there was an answer to that. Researchers took an interest to compare the terrestrial produce with the soil-less one. It revealed that the quality of both these plants is the same. This even made more to be on demand since this type of agricultural production is the same regardless of whether the soil is used or not.

This practice of aquiculture leads to reduction in effects which come with pests and diseases to a great extent and also soil fatigue. Since planting is done on the waters, this means no weeds to require herbicides and share nutrients with the plant. This is unlike soils which contain other plants which compete for nutrients with the plants being planted. The question of land fatigue or exhaustion is a forgotten case since soil medium is never used.

Since the region can produce its own, it is able to meet the consumers while the plant is still fresh. If they were to buy from other states, the vegetables could spoil on the way and lose the quality they have. Keep in mind the plant is perishable, and so it would lose freshness even during transportation.

Therefore fresh hydroponic lettuce in Alaska is useful to the state. It is able to meet demand in the market and while fresh. This is possible due to the aquiculture practice.




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