Answer:

Plants need oxygen to survive and grow.

Explanation: The reason for air pumps in hydroponics is that plants need oxygen to survive and grow. The green parts of plants can extract oxygen from the air because the plant produces more oxygen through photosynthesis. However, the roots of the plant need oxygen through the soil or water. This is where air pumps can help supply the water with oxygen; otherwise, the plant will drown.

Let’s take a look at wick hydroponics systems and hydroponic systems that do not require air pumps, but rely on plant roots to absorb oxygen from the air and hydroponic systems that require an air pump to supply oxygen to the water.