| During the late 1940's, a practical hydroponic method | | | | troops stationed in these areas. |
| was developed by Robert B. and Alice P. Withrow, | | | | During this time, large hydroponic facilities were |
| working at Purdue University. Their hydroponics | | | | established in Habbaniya, Iraq and Bahrain in the |
| system alternately flooded and drained a container | | | | Persian Gulf, to support troops stationed in those |
| holding gravel and the plant roots. This provided the | | | | areas near large oil reserves. |
| plants with the optimum amount of both nutrient | | | | The American Army and Royal Air Force built |
| solution and air to facilitate rapid and efficient growth. | | | | hydroponic units at various military bases to help feed |
| During World War II the shipping of fresh vegetables | | | | troops. In 1952, the US Army's special hydroponics |
| overseas was not practical and remote islands where | | | | branch grew over 8,000,000 lbs. of fresh produce for |
| troops were stationed were not a place where they | | | | military demand. Also established at this time was one |
| could be grown in the soil. Hydroponic technology | | | | of the world's largest hydroponic farms in Chofu, |
| was tested as a viable source for fresh vegetables | | | | Japan, consisting of 22 hectares. |
| during this time. | | | | Following the success of hydroponics in World War II, |
| In 1945, the US Air Force built one of the first large | | | | several large commercial hydroponic farms were built |
| hydroponic farms on Ascension Island in the South | | | | in the US, most of which were in Florida. However, |
| Atlantic, followed by additional hydroponic farms on | | | | due to poor construction and management, many of |
| the islands of Iwo Jima and Okinawa in the Pacific, | | | | these farms were unsuccessful. Even though the |
| using crushed volcanic rock as the growing medium | | | | potential of hydroponics was incredible, commercial |
| and, on Wake Island west of Hawaii, using gravel as | | | | hydroponics in the US was held back until hydroponic |
| the growing medium. These hydroponic farms helped | | | | systems that were economical to build and relatively |
| fill the need for a supply of fresh vegetables for | | | | easy to operate, became available in the marketplace. |