Hydroponics vs soil
Hydroponics vs Soil Cultivation
Hydroponics decouples the root zone from soil variability. Higher yield, tighter water and nutrient control, more CAPEX, more agronomy discipline.
| Dimension | Hydroponics | Soil Cultivation |
|---|---|---|
| Growing medium | Soil (native or amended) | Substrate (coco, rockwool, perlite) or water (NFT/DWC) |
| Yield vs soil | Baseline | 1.5–3× depending on crop and system |
| Water use / kg | High | 70–90% lower (closed-loop possible) |
| Nutrient control | Slow, indirect | Real-time EC/pH via fertigation |
| CAPEX / m² | Low | USD 60–250/m² for the hydroponic system alone |
| Agronomy skill | Traditional | Higher – needs trained grower and monitoring |
| Disease reset | Rotation, fallow | Substrate swap or line disinfection |
| Best-fit crops | Field crops, orchards, root crops | Tomato, pepper, cucumber, leafy greens, herbs, strawberries |