By Jeff Mulhollem
Soilless farming—a method of growing plants in a nutrient-rich solution rather than traditional soil—accounts for a significant share of vegetable production, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), with more than half of tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce grown using hydroponics. This fast-growing segment of modern agriculture addresses water scarcity, land limitations and food security, but microbial management remains a challenge, according to a team of researchers at Penn State.
The team studied bacteria in five soilless farming systems and found that hydroponic system design strongly affects microbes in nutrient solution; the growing cycle strongly affects microbial community structure; each system may require different microbial management strategies; and leaf contamination is less affected than microbes in the water.
The researchers experimentally grew the leafy vegetable bok choy to test whether and how different soilless farming system designs affect microbial growth, as well as whether microbial differences affect plants, which could affect food safety.
They published their findings in Applied and Environmental Microbiology.
The U.S. soilless system food market is a rapidly expanding, multimillion-dollar sector projected to exceed $6 billion in 2026, noted study co-author Francesco Di Gioia, associate professor of vegetable crop science in the College of Agricultural Sciences. Soilless farming systems are playing a major role in the market for premium, local produce such as tomatoes, leafy greens and herbs, he said. For that reason, the findings of this research are essential.
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