Soilless Agricultural Systems: Opportunities, Challenges, and Applications for Enhancing Horticultural Resilience to Climate Change and Urbanization
Rapid urbanization, climate variability, and land degradation are increasingly challenging traditional open-field farming systems. Soilless farming (SLF) has emerged as a complementary approach to enhance horticultural resilience in space-constrained and climate-stressed environments. This review cr...
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Horticulturae |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/11/6/568 |
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| author | Imran Ali Lakhiar Haofang Yan Tabinda Naz Syed Chuan Zhang Sher Ali Shaikh Md. Rakibuzzaman Rahim Bux Vistro |
| author_facet | Imran Ali Lakhiar Haofang Yan Tabinda Naz Syed Chuan Zhang Sher Ali Shaikh Md. Rakibuzzaman Rahim Bux Vistro |
| author_sort | Imran Ali Lakhiar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Rapid urbanization, climate variability, and land degradation are increasingly challenging traditional open-field farming systems. Soilless farming (SLF) has emerged as a complementary approach to enhance horticultural resilience in space-constrained and climate-stressed environments. This review critically evaluates the role of SLF within the broader framework of climate-smart agriculture (C-SA), with a particular focus on its applications in urban and peri-urban settings. Drawing on a systematic review of the existing literature, the study explores how SLF technologies contribute to efficient resource use, localized food production, and environmental sustainability. By decoupling crop cultivation from soil, SLF enables precise control over nutrient delivery and water use in enclosed environments, such as vertical farms, greenhouses, and container-based units. These systems offer notable advantages regarding water conservation, increased yield per unit area, and adaptability to non-arable or degraded land, making them particularly relevant for high-density cities, arid zones, and climate-sensitive regions. SLF systems are categorized into substrate-based (e.g., coco peat and rock wool) and water-based systems (e.g., hydroponics, aquaponics, and aeroponics), each with distinct design requirements, nutrient management strategies, and crop compatibility. Emerging technologies—including artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and automation—further enhance SLF system efficiency through real-time data monitoring and precision control. Despite these advancements, challenges remain. High setup costs, energy demands, and the need for technical expertise continue to limit large-scale adoption. While SLF is not a replacement for traditional agriculture, it offers a strategic supplement to bolster localized food systems and address climate-related risks in horticultural production. Urban horticulture is no longer a peripheral activity; it is becoming an integral element of sustainable urban development. SLF should be embedded within broader resilience strategies, tailored to specific socioeconomic and environmental contexts. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3710ff18b3bf416f958faa1ccfa6e28f |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2311-7524 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Horticulturae |
| spelling | doaj-art-3710ff18b3bf416f958faa1ccfa6e28f2025-08-20T02:21:02ZengMDPI AGHorticulturae2311-75242025-05-0111656810.3390/horticulturae11060568Soilless Agricultural Systems: Opportunities, Challenges, and Applications for Enhancing Horticultural Resilience to Climate Change and UrbanizationImran Ali Lakhiar0Haofang Yan1Tabinda Naz Syed2Chuan Zhang3Sher Ali Shaikh4Md. Rakibuzzaman5Rahim Bux Vistro6Research Center of Fluid Machinery Engineering and Technology, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, ChinaResearch Center of Fluid Machinery Engineering and Technology, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, ChinaCollege of Engineering, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210031, ChinaSchool of Agricultural Equipment Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, ChinaFaculty of Agricultural Engineering, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam 70060, PakistanResearch Center of Fluid Machinery Engineering and Technology, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, ChinaFaculty of Agricultural Engineering, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam 70060, PakistanRapid urbanization, climate variability, and land degradation are increasingly challenging traditional open-field farming systems. Soilless farming (SLF) has emerged as a complementary approach to enhance horticultural resilience in space-constrained and climate-stressed environments. This review critically evaluates the role of SLF within the broader framework of climate-smart agriculture (C-SA), with a particular focus on its applications in urban and peri-urban settings. Drawing on a systematic review of the existing literature, the study explores how SLF technologies contribute to efficient resource use, localized food production, and environmental sustainability. By decoupling crop cultivation from soil, SLF enables precise control over nutrient delivery and water use in enclosed environments, such as vertical farms, greenhouses, and container-based units. These systems offer notable advantages regarding water conservation, increased yield per unit area, and adaptability to non-arable or degraded land, making them particularly relevant for high-density cities, arid zones, and climate-sensitive regions. SLF systems are categorized into substrate-based (e.g., coco peat and rock wool) and water-based systems (e.g., hydroponics, aquaponics, and aeroponics), each with distinct design requirements, nutrient management strategies, and crop compatibility. Emerging technologies—including artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and automation—further enhance SLF system efficiency through real-time data monitoring and precision control. Despite these advancements, challenges remain. High setup costs, energy demands, and the need for technical expertise continue to limit large-scale adoption. While SLF is not a replacement for traditional agriculture, it offers a strategic supplement to bolster localized food systems and address climate-related risks in horticultural production. Urban horticulture is no longer a peripheral activity; it is becoming an integral element of sustainable urban development. SLF should be embedded within broader resilience strategies, tailored to specific socioeconomic and environmental contexts.https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/11/6/568aeroponicsaquaponicsclimate-smart agriculture technologyhydroponicssubstrate cultureurban farming |
| spellingShingle | Imran Ali Lakhiar Haofang Yan Tabinda Naz Syed Chuan Zhang Sher Ali Shaikh Md. Rakibuzzaman Rahim Bux Vistro Soilless Agricultural Systems: Opportunities, Challenges, and Applications for Enhancing Horticultural Resilience to Climate Change and Urbanization Horticulturae aeroponics aquaponics climate-smart agriculture technology hydroponics substrate culture urban farming |
| title | Soilless Agricultural Systems: Opportunities, Challenges, and Applications for Enhancing Horticultural Resilience to Climate Change and Urbanization |
| title_full | Soilless Agricultural Systems: Opportunities, Challenges, and Applications for Enhancing Horticultural Resilience to Climate Change and Urbanization |
| title_fullStr | Soilless Agricultural Systems: Opportunities, Challenges, and Applications for Enhancing Horticultural Resilience to Climate Change and Urbanization |
| title_full_unstemmed | Soilless Agricultural Systems: Opportunities, Challenges, and Applications for Enhancing Horticultural Resilience to Climate Change and Urbanization |
| title_short | Soilless Agricultural Systems: Opportunities, Challenges, and Applications for Enhancing Horticultural Resilience to Climate Change and Urbanization |
| title_sort | soilless agricultural systems opportunities challenges and applications for enhancing horticultural resilience to climate change and urbanization |
| topic | aeroponics aquaponics climate-smart agriculture technology hydroponics substrate culture urban farming |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/11/6/568 |
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