Only one fertilizer needs to be purchased.Of the three approaches to making nutrient solutions, this is the simplest.Photos: Elsa Sánchez, Penn State Advantages to Using a Complete Fertilizer Only (Right) A metal blade connected to a motor (yellow arrow) is being used to keep fertilizer in solution. (Left) 20-10-20 fertilizer used to supply nutrients to a hydroponic lettuce crop. For hydroponic lettuce, this might be 100 to 150 ppm nitrogen.įigure 3. Using this approach, nutrients are usually applied based on the nitrogen needs of the crop. Some growers use a complete soluble fertilizer including micronutrients to provide nutrients to their hydroponics crops. Hydroponics Systems: Using the Two Basic Equations to Calculate a Nutrient Solution Recipe Complete Soluble Fertilizer Approach A high precision scale is required to measure micronutrients because of the small amounts needed.However, calculations require uncomplicated math skills based on multiplication and division. Some people may be intimidated by the math involved. It is necessary to calculate how much fertilizer to add to the nutrient solution.Using recipes can be less costly than using fertilizer programs.ĭisadvantages to Nutrient Solution Recipes.Because recipes allow for easy adjustments, fertilizers can be used more efficiently than in fertilizer programs.It is easy to add more iron to the nutrient solution. If a foliar analysis report indicates that a plant is deficient in iron. Recipes allow for easily adjusting nutrients.They would need to add 180 ppm potassium (210 ppm – 30 ppm= 180 ppm) to the water to have the amount of potassium called for in this recipe. For example, if a grower is using a water source that has 30 ppm potassium and making the Modified Sonneveld’s solution for herbs which calls for 210 ppm potassium. Nutrient solution recipes allow for adjusting fertilizers based on nutrients contained in water sources.Hydroponics Systems: Calculating Nutrient Solution Concentrations Using the Two Basic Equations Advantages to Nutrient Solution Recipes Growers calculate how much fertilizer to put in the nutrient solution based on the amount of a nutrient in the fertilizer and the amount called for in the recipe. Fertilizers commonly used include: Fertilizer It is up to growers to decide which fertilizers to use to make a nutrient solution from a recipe. An example is the Modified Sonoveld’s solution for herbs seen below (Mattson and Peters, Insidegrower). They are specific to a crop and are available in a variety of sources including through university Extension services, online, and through trade magazines. Recipes contain an amount of each nutrient to add to the nutrient solution. Recipes are also available to make nutrient solutions. Fertilizer programs can cost more than using recipes to make nutrient solutions.For example, if a water source has 30 ppm of potassium, there is no way to adjust the amount of potassium applied in the fertilizer program. Another drawback is that fertilizer programs do not allow growers to account for nutrients already in the water source.Solely using a fertilizer program does not allow for just phosphorus to be easily added. For example, if the foliar analysis indicates that more phosphorus is needed. Fertilizer programs do not allow for easy adjustments of individual nutrients.Making nutrients solutions requires very little or no mathematical calculations.Minimal ordering of fertilizers is needed (only 3 in the Hydro-Gardens example).Photo: Elsa Sánchez, Penn State Advantages to Fertilizer Programs Directions for use from the back of the Hydro-Gardens Chem-Gro tomato formula bag. To make a nutrient solution, it is supplemented with calcium nitrate and magnesium sulfate, depending on the variety and/or stage of plant growth.įigure 2. It has an analysis of 4-18-38 and also contains magnesium and micronutrients. In this program, growers purchase Hydro-Gardens Chem-Gro tomato formula. An example of a fertilizer program is one offered by Hydro-Gardens for hydroponic tomatoes. They are offered by some hydroponic and/or fertilizer companies and vary by hydroponic crop. Fertilizer Programsįertilizer programs consist of a complete fertilizer supplemented with macronutrients. Basic approaches to creating nutrient solutions are fertilizer programs, recipes, and complete fertilizers. In hydroponic systems, most plant nutrients are supplied through nutrient solutions.
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