Media Release

Mangaluru, Sep 22: To make the students more environmentally sensitive, Mount Carmel Central School, Maryhill introduced 'Hydroponics – Horticulture without Soil' as an extra-curricular activity in August 2020 which centered on green environment – clean environment.

Hydroponics is a method of growing crops without soil by using mineral nutrient solutions in an aqueous solvent. Many students participated in the project enthusiastically, the freedom of selecting the seeds among the two crops coriander and methi (fenugreek) was given to them. The students recorded various stages of plant growth, took photographs as well as video graphed the germinating phases of the seedling. It took approximately fifteen to twenty days for the harvest.

The students expressed that the project was very innovative and helped them to develop the life skill of maintaining a kitchen garden in limited space.

Kindly click on the YouTube link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-cGg1Clzb8&t=12s

for the details of the work done by the students.

The main learning outcome of the project was to gain knowledge on the modern techniques of farming that can be done indoors or in a greenhouse. Hydroponics is one such method that the growers will take full management of the environment - climate, temperature, lights, ventilation, and so on.

Benefits of hydroponics:
• Plants grown in water can grow faster and healthier than plants grown in soil because they do not have to fight soil-borne diseases and can obtain all the essential nutrients in proper proportions
• All the food and water they need are given directly to their roots
• The root systems stay smaller, so each plant can concentrate its energy on producing plant mass, rather than roots
• Plants can be grown anywhere

The post-COVID world needs a host of new innovations and ideas. Keeping the need of the hour in mind, Mount Carmel Central School encourages and supports the students for experiential learning.