Hydroponics and Nutrient Film Technique Hydroponics is the cultivation of plants in nutrient-enriched water with or without the mechanical support of an inert medium such as sand or gravel. It is an important method of plant production both for experimental research and commercial agricultural production (Clark, 1982). Growing plants in nutrient solutions has significant advantages, including control of the composition, concentration, and availability of nutrients as well as regulation of the solution pH (Clark, 1982). Another advantage is the minimization of labor input into the operation through automatic watering and fertilizing.