Aero Hydroponics - the Method of the Future
Aero Hydroponics - The Method of the Future
The aero-hydroponic method was developed in Israel in the early 1980's. Dr. Hillel Soffer, senior researcher at the VoIcani Institute at Ein Gedi developed the aero-hydroponic method to overcome the challenges presented by the hot, arid conditions at Ein Gedi. The discoveries that followed the development of aero-hydroponics offer great benefits to all hydroponic growers.
During a two-year period from 1986 to 1988, Dr. Soffer performed extensive research using the aero-hydroponic method at the University of California at Davis, where he had received his Ph.D. in the early 1970s.The specific area of research was in quantifying the effect of various levels of dissolved oxygen on root growth, especially in the propagation of plants from cuttings.
The findings of his research were published in the Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science, and HortScience. Both studies were co-authored with David Burger at UCD. In addition., Dr. Soffer presented his findings at the annual conference of the Hydroponic Society of America in 1988. Except for the papers mentioned above, very little has been printed up to now on the aero-hydroponic method. The method was patented internationally, though few licenses for the production of equipment have been granted. Without aggressive commercial support, the aero-hydroponic method has remained largely a research tool, known mostly to university researchers.
In the meantime, the rockwool method was becoming available internationally following 12 years of exhaustive research and a strong marketing program with lots of investment in advertising, production and distribution, first in Europe and later in Japan.
Following nearly a decade of rockwool use the Dutch contacted Dr. Soffer to request permission to develop and use the aero-hydroponic method. The reason for the sudden interest of the Dutch in the aero-hydroponic method has implications for the development of
The aero-hydroponic method was developed in Israel in the early 1980's. Dr. Hillel Soffer, senior researcher at the VoIcani Institute at Ein Gedi developed the aero-hydroponic method to overcome the challenges presented by the hot, arid conditions at Ein Gedi. The discoveries that followed the development of aero-hydroponics offer great benefits to all hydroponic growers.
During a two-year period from 1986 to 1988, Dr. Soffer performed extensive research using the aero-hydroponic method at the University of California at Davis, where he had received his Ph.D. in the early 1970s.The specific area of research was in quantifying the effect of various levels of dissolved oxygen on root growth, especially in the propagation of plants from cuttings.
The findings of his research were published in the Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science, and HortScience. Both studies were co-authored with David Burger at UCD. In addition., Dr. Soffer presented his findings at the annual conference of the Hydroponic Society of America in 1988. Except for the papers mentioned above, very little has been printed up to now on the aero-hydroponic method. The method was patented internationally, though few licenses for the production of equipment have been granted. Without aggressive commercial support, the aero-hydroponic method has remained largely a research tool, known mostly to university researchers.
In the meantime, the rockwool method was becoming available internationally following 12 years of exhaustive research and a strong marketing program with lots of investment in advertising, production and distribution, first in Europe and later in Japan.
Following nearly a decade of rockwool use the Dutch contacted Dr. Soffer to request permission to develop and use the aero-hydroponic method. The reason for the sudden interest of the Dutch in the aero-hydroponic method has implications for the development of