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Hydroponics and Toxicity

There is currently a misconception (invariably propagated by governments and amplified by the media) that hydroponic ally grown produce is more toxic than its soil-grown equivalent/s.

This is a highly simplistic assumption and flies in the face of scientific evidence.

Soil Versus Hydroponics

In recent times certain sections of society have embraced the idea that all that is organic is good, an idea not without merit!

Organic produce is grown free of chemical pesticides. Only produce grown in soils that are tested and found to be free of chemical residues, are given official ‘organic’ ratings. So when someone buys organically certified produce, they’re buying produce that is pesticide and chemical residue free.

However, theoretically, the health advantages of organics end there.

On this note, soil-grown produce is not, in the vast majority of instances, organic. Soil grown products have typically been cultivated with the use of fertilizers, fungal preventatives, herbicides and pesticides etc. The soil that plants are grown in can often be contaminated with residual toxins such as organochlorines (traces of DDT etc). Therefore, we need to make a distinction between organics and soil grown produce.

Plants and Minerals

Plants uptake mineral elements, when in bio-available form, and use them in a series of complex processes which ultimately ends in additional biomass (growth/size). Some minerals remain in the plant in bio-available form. This is a positive, as the human body requires these minerals for various physiological needs. It doesn’t matter whether these elements are derived from seaweed, fish by-product, compost or rocks. It is all the same to a plant and other living organisms (e.g. Humans). What makes a plant toxic is when it uptakes and/or is provided with harmful elements that remain in or on the plant. This means that these elements remain in or on the plant until it is consumed.

The use of some products (pesticides etc) contributes greatly to this problem.

The Myth of Organics

What organic enthusiasts have done is disregard the basic chemistry of plants. Potassium is potassium, nitrogen is nitrogen, phosphorous is phosphorous etc, etc, etc. As far as a plant is concerned there can be no distinction made between two atoms of the same chemical element.

In fact, the likelihood of organics providing optimal plant nutrition, hence available minerals for human consumption, is lower than the likelihood of hydroponics providing optimal plant nutrition. Many organic fertilizers tend to be deficient in, at least, some of the vital minerals that plants and humans require.

In addition to this, there is a greater likelihood that organic fertilizers are potentially more toxic than their man-made equivalents. This is because man-made fertilizers consist of only mineral elements – whereas organic fertilizers have greater variation in their constituents.

For instance, kelp products derive from polluted oceans while fish products emanate from fish that live in these very same oceans. North sea kelp products, to cite just one example, can possess high levels of pollutants.

Therefore, because only clean, defined mineral elements are used in the production of hydroponic formulas, not only is hydroponic produce safe, but also, when it is grown without the use of pesticides etc it is possibly safer for human consumption than organic produce.

Soil grown, non - organic produce has the potential to be the most harmful of all.

It is far too simplistic to say that the natural way is the healthy way. This fails to recognize all kinds of variables, not the least of which is that we (the human race) have poisoned our planet and continue to do so at a breathtaking rate: the air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink, our seas and our earth - to varying degrees - all have the potential to be toxic.

As a point of reference, take for example free-range eggs.

Recent research exposed extreme levels of toxins in a percentage of free-range eggs that came from different sources. This was due to organochlorines (OCs) being present in the soil.

OCs include DDT, heptachlor and dieldrin which were commonly used pesticides from around the 1940s onwards. OCs are readily absorbed by soil particles because they are not very water soluble. OCs remain in the soil for significant lengths of time. For instance, the half-life of DDT in soil is approximately 15 – 50 years. This means that DDT takes 15 to 50 years to break down to half its original concentration. Contamination of feed provided to animals on OC affected land will occur because the soil will attach itself to organic matter. This problem is exacerbated as the chickens scratch at the soil, spreading it onto their feed.

But what has this to do with hydroponics? The exact same principles apply to other living organisms.

The Myth of “Toxic” Hydroponics

Hydroponic formulas consist of an array of micro and macro elements, all of which are derived from natural sources in one way or another. Most are mined or produced from seawater, but almost all nitrogen fertilizer is produced synthetically from air. Arguably, the average nutrient formula is (thus) organic.

Remember that nitrogen is nitrogen and phosphorous is phosphorous, whether it is derived from seaweed or a test tube. As far as a plant is concerned there can be no distinction made between two atoms of the same chemical element.

Of late, some politicians and vested-interest groups have expressed the theory that hydroponic produce is laden with toxins. Scientific fact clearly refutes this.

Hydroponics Versus Organics - Viability and Sustainability

In a perfect world our planet would have unpolluted soils, rivers and oceans; our water tables wouldn’t be contaminated by leached toxins, and the air would be so clean that there was no such thing as ozone depletion (let alone acid rain). Unfortunately, this isn’t the case.

Decades of unsound environmental practices have decimated the environment. Growing populations have put more pressure on the eco-system, while capitalist entities and governments resist environmentally friendly change.

If we are to correct this, we need to find pragmatic ways of reducing pollution, and at the same time address ways of bringing about positive change, while not undermining the economy. This has largely been the problem until now. Different interest groups can’t come to the table with terms that serve both the needs of green interests and market forces.

Hydroponics clearly does this.

Hydroponics is both eco-friendly and commercially viable. The same cannot be said about organic agriculture.

Organic gardening is labor intensive and, typically, results in less produce. This means that commercial gardeners are unlikely to shift towards organic methods of growing.

In addition to this, higher labor costs and less produce result in higher prices for the consumer.

Hydroponics, typically, results in higher yields and is less labour intensive than traditional agricultural methods. Controlled environments allow hydroponic farmers to produce crops out of season, resulting in monetary rewards. Therefore, hydroponics is both Earth friendly and economically viable.

Hydroponic gardeners are able to separate elements from the environment. Efficient waste management ensures that potential toxins never leach into our water tables, our rivers, and our oceans. And the produce is safe to eat.

What Causes Toxicity in Hydro Produce?

Quite simply, the very same thing that causes toxicity in soil grown produce! That is, toxins which remain on the surface of, or residual in the plant.

Hydroponics, however, allows us to control exactly what the plant consumes (unlike soil which could contain toxins that we can do nothing about). For this reason ethical growing practices are a must.

The Practice of Poisoning

There have been, at least, several occasions during my career that I have given warnings about the use a product only to have the warning go unheeded. Presumably this is because the customer:

• a) Has been told otherwise (that the product is safe)
  
• b) Couldn’t care less
  
• c) Believes that they know better
  

One quick point on this matter - if a retailer is willing to sacrifice a sale by telling you that the product is unsafe, the chances are that they are telling you the truth. Beyond this, we know that plants perform extremely well when the environmental conditions are right and when the plants are provided with balanced nutrition. Why provide other things or products that have questionable outcomes?

It is fair to say that the vast majority of people try not to harm themselves or others. However, with all the best intentions, a glance at our road toll, workplace accidents, mishaps in the home, etc, sometimes suggests otherwise.

These harms are often a result of failing to act in a preventative/proactive way. That is, most injuries and harms are a result of a cause and effect dynamic. For instance; Cause – failing to stop at a red light. Effect – questionable? (Though, likely to end in death or injury)

A similar principle applies to our growing practices. E.g. Cause – pumping toxins into a plant. Effect – an end product that contains toxins.

Put simply, it comes down to Cause and Effect: this means thinking about the products that you are using and the practices that you incorporate into your growing regime. You, at the end of the day determine, and are entirely responsible, for the quality and safety of the end product!

How to Produce a Clean Product: Some Simple Rules for A Clean Product

• 1) Avoid using systemic products (unless absolutely necessary)
  
• 1) If you do need to use a systemic product, note the clearing time and double it
  
• 2) Never use a systemic product past the midway point of the flowering cycle
  
• 3) Avoid the use of noxious pesticides during the flowering cycle. There are less harmful ways of dealing with pests (e.g. botanical and biological control agents)
  
• 4) If you do need to use pesticides that are potentially toxic, never spray within 4 weeks of harvest. Products such as neem oil or agricultural soft soap sprays can be used to control pests during this period.
  
• 5) Where possible, avoid the use of questionable products (e.g. chemical pesticides and some hormone products etc)
  6)Attempt to find out what is in any questionable product that you are purchasing. If the supplier does not list ingredients – or if the retailer doesn’t know the product’s active constituents – exercise your right to pass.
  
• 7) Avoid purchasing under the counter (not displayed) or unlabeled products. It stands to reason that anything that is sold from under the counter, and/or is unlabelled, has questionable origins.
  
• 8) Always run water only for the last 7 days of the flowering cycle. This will help convert the residual elements into biomass and ensure a very clean product, provided that your other growing practices are in check.
  

OK, so let’s set an ethical framework for clean hydro produce. Firstly, let me establish a key point with regards to a clean end product.

Big yields do not come in bottles. Big yields are realized through the interaction of plants and their environment, in conjunction with nutrition. This means that light quality, air temperatures, relative humidity levels, water and media temperatures, pest control, and CO2 availability (through air movement), in conjunction with optimised nutrition = high yields. There is no need to use ‘wonder’ products (I ‘wonder’ what’s in it?) if these factors are optimised.

Therefore, let’s concentrate on meeting the environmental and nutritional requirements of the crop that you are growing. Spend your money on lights, fans, thermometers, controllers etc and save your money where bottles with fanciful claims are concerned. Investing wisely now will save you in the long run!

Where pests are concerned:

Ensure that chemical pesticides do not remain residual in the plant/s. This means carefully following warnings and clearing times etc. Ideally, double clearing times to ensure that no residual elements remain in the harvested product. Always read the labels. If the label does not specify active ingredients and clearing times (where appropriate) purchase a product that does provide this information.
Always use non-toxic pest control products during the last three weeks, leading up to harvest. Botanical insecticides such as Neem oil work very effectively on the vast majority of insects. Ask your supplier about further options.

Where products are concerned:

Avoid using hormone products that claim to stimulate floral growth unless the active constituents are listed. If you do choose to use hormones to stimulate floral growth (after establishing what the active constituents are) do some background research. This is as easy as getting on the World Wide Web and reading any available literature. Key words such as the name of the hormone (e.g. ‘cycocel’) + “toxicity” (“dangers” etc) may help refine the search.
Avoid the misuse of potentially toxic products. Systemic products or other products with long withholdings periods should only be used when there are no safer options. Careful use of these products (application of withholding periods etc) is strongly recommended.
Consider the options where product choice is concerned. For instance, if the desired outcome is heavier, larger flowers there are numerous options. I recommend the use of Pot Ash (PK) because it is safe and effective. There are many other safe and effective options. Why mess with potentially toxic products when you don’t need to?

And ALWAYS RUN WATER ONLY FOR THE LAST 7 DAYS OF THE FLOWERING CYCLE.

Hydroponics. The Way of the Future, Safe and Sustainable

Shortly after writing ‘Hydroponics and Purported Toxicity’ tens of thousands of dead fish were found floating on the surface of Perth’s major arterial waterway, the Swan River. Soil-based fertilizers (nitrates and the like) had leached into the Swan River. Approximately 8 kilometers of river was affected. Official ‘guesstimates’ suggest between 100,000 – 200,000 fish died.

The shadow environment minister of Western Australia was quoted as saying: “ …algal blooms would continue to occur until local councils and urban gardeners stopped using so much (sic) fertilizers.”

What makes this situation worse is that ‘The Swan River Trust’ had introduced 250,000 fish into the river after a previous pesticide-related fish kill only a few years before this latest atrocity.

On this note… a call out to some of our highly enlightened politicians.

Given Australia’s arid climate and lack of water resources… Given that much of these precious water resources go to waste as they leach through, largely, nutritionally devoid sands and other types of substandard soils (carrying with them fertilizers and other potential toxins into our water tables and our rivers)… Given that traditional agricultural practices include pumping poisons into our planet (methyl bromide etc)…. Given all of this - it is an incredibly dim mind which demonizes a method of agriculture that separates potentially harmful elements from the rest of the environment. Enough said…

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