Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Hydroponics is the sootless, water-based cultivation of plants using dissolved mineral nutrient solutions.
Different hydroponic systems are classified based on how the nutrient solution is delivered to the plant root zone.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us analyze and match the hydroponic systems in List-I with their functional mechanisms in List-II:
- (A) Wick System $\rightarrow$ Passive form of hydroponics (III): The Wick system is the simplest, passive hydroponic system.
It uses no pumps or moving parts.
Instead, nutrient solution is drawn up from a reservoir into the growing medium via capillary action through a physical fabric wick.
- (B) Ebb and Flow $\rightarrow$ Periodic flooding and draining of the nutrient solutions (IV): Also known as the flood-and-drain system, it uses a pump on a timer to temporarily flood the plant grow tray with nutrient solution, which then naturally drains back down into the reservoir.
- (C) NFT (Nutrient Film Technique) system $\rightarrow$ Shallow stream of water (I): In an NFT system, a continuous, very shallow stream (or "film") of nutrient-rich water recirculates over the bare roots of plants, which sit in sloping channels.
- (D) Water Culture $\rightarrow$ Net pot filled with clay pebbles (II): In deep water culture (DWC) or floating raft systems, plants are suspended in net pots filled with support media (like clay pebbles) directly over an aerated, water-filled nutrient reservoir.
This gives the sequence: (A)-(III), (B)-(IV), (C)-(I), (D)-(II).
This matches Option (D).
Step 3: Final Answer:
The correct matching sequence is (A) - (III), (B) - (IV), (C) - (I), (D) - (II).