'A New Chapter in Smart Farming: Fresher Crops Without Soil'
Goheung County in Jeollanam-do (Governor Gong Youngmin) announced on the 15th that it had successfully completed the first harvest of cucumbers cultivated using nutrient solution on the 14th.
The varieties grown this time were 'Good Morning' and 'Girasung', which are widely cultivated in Goheung. These varieties are favored by farmers due to their excellent initial growth and high yield.
Goheung County successfully harvested the first crop of cucumbers grown hydroponically since March 14. Photo by Goheung County
Nutrient solution cultivation is a method that supplies crops with nutrients dissolved in water instead of using soil. Compared to soil cultivation, it results in fewer pests and diseases and allows for precise control of the growing environment, making it possible to produce high-quality crops.
In particular, this demonstration cultivation enabled harvesting 5 to 7 days earlier than soil cultivation and achieved excellent results with uniform growth and outstanding marketability.
Regarding the results of the demonstration cultivation, one farmer said, "Nutrient solution cultivation allows for systematic management, resulting in fewer diseases. The cucumbers have uniform color and consistent length, which is very satisfying," adding, "I believe Goheung County should gradually transition from soil cultivation to nutrient solution cultivation in the future."
An official from the County Agricultural Technology Center stated, "Nutrient solution cultivation using smart farms is free from soil problems such as abnormal weather or continuous cropping obstacles. It enables optimal environmental control and real-time monitoring for crop growth, which is why it is gaining attention as an alternative for the future of agriculture," and added, "We will continue to actively promote technology dissemination and educational support to provide practical help to facility horticulture farmers."
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