As urbanization accelerates and arable land becomes increasingly constrained, soilless agriculture methods, such as hydroponics and aquaponics have emerged as sustainable alternatives to traditional soil-based cultivation. This review examines the comparative performance of hydroponic and aquaponic systems in vegetable and floriculture production, with particular emphasis on month-wise and season-wise yield attributes under indoor and outdoor conditions in the Indian context. Hydroponics offers precise nutrient management, higher yields, and year-round cultivation, but remains energy-intensive and sensitive to seasonal fluctuations in light and temperature. Aquaponics, while less chemically reliant and highly water-efficient, introduces additional biological complexity through fish-plant integration and is influenced by temperature-sensitive aquaculture components. Seasonal shifts affect system efficiency, crop physiology, nutrient uptake and operational costs, even in controlled environments. Warm-season leafy vegetables and herbs such as basil, amaranths, and mint are more robust during Indian summers, while crops like lettuce, kale and parsley thrive in winter or in actively cooled environments. Similarly, ornamental crops like marigold, nasturtium, and lilies display clear seasonal performance windows based on temperature and photoperiodism. The review also highlights the absence of standardized crop calendars tailored to Indian agro-climatic zones and controlled-environment agriculture. A comparative seasonal cultivation calendar and yield matrix is proposed based on recent studies. Finally, future research should focus on developing AI-driven, open-access crop scheduling tools and longitudinal varietal trials to optimize system design and sustainability. By linking crop choice with seasonality, system type, and environment, this study offers actionable insights for maximizing resource efficiency, profitability and crop resilience in soilless horticulture

Hydroponics, Aquaponics, Seasonal Yield, Indoor Farming, Floriculture, Water Use Efficiency

Hydroponics and aquaponics both offer promising alternatives to conventional farming, especially in space-constrained or climate-vulnerable regions. However, their performance varies significantly across seasons and crop types. This review reveals that seasonal sensitivity remains a critical factor, even under controlled conditions. Warm-tolerant vegetables and herbs are well-suited for outdoor and low-tech systems during hot months, while cool-season crops and sensitive florals require more advanced climate control. Aquaponics, with its integrated fish-plant dynamic, offers water and nutrient advantages, but demands higher management precision. There is a clear need for India-specific, season-wise crop calendars and predictive scheduling tools to support efficient cultivation year-round. Integrating digital agriculture, climate forecasting and open-source planning platforms will be vital for advancing both system types. Ultimately, aligning crop selection with environmental realities and system capabilities will be key to achieving sustainable, and high-yield soilless farming across diverse climatic conditions

A. Mishra and B.C. Mohapatra (2025). Vegetable and Floriculture Crop Cultivation in Aquaponics and Hydroponics Systems: A Review from Indian Context. Biological Forum, 17(8): 125-132