No Manual, but handout available.
** Fair Entry – You MUST register your 4-H project in Fair Entry if you plan to exhibit at the 4-H Fair. See page 21! **
Hydroponics Project Requirements:
Level A (Grades 3 – 4)
Display a poster or notebook explaining the difference between Hydroponics, Aquaculture, Aeroponic, Controlled Environment Agriculture, or Greenhouse growing systems. Choose at least two (2) of these systems and compare their growing traits. Example: Hydroponics and Aeroponics - Show the differences between the two systems. Include cost, structure of each system, the types of plants that can be used in each system, and the advantage or disadvantage of each system.
-OR-
Display a table top Hydroponic system, with at least three (3) edible plants. Display must not be larger than 3 ft x 3 ft. Prepare a notebook to accompany your growing system that includes the design of your system, cost and materials list, time spent building your system. Include your “Hydroponics Gardening Planner, Journal and Log Book” records. Include the type of nutrients your plants need in the Hydroponic
solution. Example: Calcium - Ca, Potassium - K, Nitrogen – N, Phosphorus -P. List other nutrients that may be needed and include their symbol from the periodic table of chemistry.
Level B (Grades 5- 6)
Display a poster or notebook explaining the difference between Hydroponics, Aquaculture, Aeroponic, Controlled Environment Agriculture, or Greenhouse growing systems. Choose at least two (2) of these systems and compare their growing traits. Example: Hydroponics and Aeroponics - Show the differences between the two systems. Include cost, structure of each system, the types of plants
that can be used in each system, and the advantage or disadvantage of each system.
-OR-
Display a table top Hydroponic system, with at least four (4) edible plants. Display must not be larger than 3 ft x 3 ft. Prepare a notebook to accompany your growing system that includes the design of your system, cost and materials list, time spent building your system. Include your “Hydroponics Gardening Planner, Journal and Log Book” records. Include the type of nutrients your plants need in the Hydroponic
solution. Example: Calcium - Ca, Potassium - K, Nitrogen – N, Phosphorus -P. List other nutrients that may be needed and include their symbol from the periodic table of chemistry.
Level C (Grades 7, 8, and 9)
Display a poster or notebook showing a Hydroponic system that you would design. Use grafting paper to show the dimensions of your system, and show where water would be sourced from, the pump system, number of gallons needed to sustain your system, and explain how your water would be recycled. Include a record of materials, cost, estimated amount of food your system would grow, and a marketing plan for your vegetables. -OR- Display a Hydroponic system you built that would grow
six (6) plants. Display must not be larger than 4 ft x2 ft. Prepare a notebook to accompany your growing system that includes the design of your system, cost and materials list, time spent building your system. Include your “Hydroponics Gardening Planner, Journal and Log Book” records, the type of nutrients your plants need in the Hydroponic solution. Example: Calcium - Ca, Potassium - K, Nitrogen – N, Phosphorus -P. List other nutrients that may be needed and include their symbol from the periodic table of chemistry.
Level D (Grades 10, 11 and 12)
Display a notebook for a Hydroponic system that would grow 125 lbs. of food. Show a drawing of your building (include dimensions for your building), your Hydroponic system, the number of plants you expect to grow, the type of vegetable that would be grown, how your system would recycle your solution, and where your water would come from. Include your “Hydroponics Gardening Planner,
Journal and Log Book” records, the type of nutrients your plants need in the Hydroponic solution. Example: Calcium - Ca, Potassium - K, Nitrogen – N, Phosphorus -P. List other nutrients that may be needed and include their symbol from the periodic table of chemistry. Include: the cost of building your building and Hydroponic system. Where would your money come from? Make a
marketing plan for your vegetables. How many times a year could you grow your vegetables? (Example: Lettuce could be grown as a rotating crop with plantings every six weeks)
-OR
Display a table top Hydroponic system no larger than 5 ft x 2 ft with at least six (6) plants growing in the system. Include your “Hydroponics Gardening Planner, Journal and Log Book” records, the type of nutrients your plants need in the Hydroponic solution. Example: Calcium - Ca, Potassium - K, Nitrogen – N, Phosphorus -P. List other nutrients that may be needed and include their symbol from the periodic table of chemistry.
