PAU has inked a pact with LS Industries, Bairsen, in Solan for the commercialization of "Hybrid Hydroponics Technology with Improved Water and Nutrient Perforation and Recirculation System." The Director of Research, PAU, Dr Ajmer Singh Dhatt, and Senior Vice-President (Global Operations) at LS Industries Limited, Sanju Laroia, signed the agreement on behalf of their organizations.
The Chief Strategy Officer at LS Industries, Akash Deep Sharma, was also present on the occasion. The pioneering technology, coined as the first 'swadeshi' (indigenous) solution in soilless farming, has been developed and patented by the head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at PAU, Dr VP Sethi.
Dr Sethi said the invention stemmed from the amalgamation of two distinct soilless technologies, effectively harnessing their combined advantages. Highlighting the key benefits of the technology, he said the enhanced nutrient availability through a perforated plate at the root's base, along with increased oxygen supply, accelerates plant growth.
The compact root system allows for closer plant spacing, optimizing land usage and potentially increasing yield per unit area, he said. He added that the technology led to the efficient utilization of water and nutrients, mitigating waste through leaching, runoff or evaporation. Dr Sethi said this aspect was crucial in light of declining water tables and rising soil toxicity.
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