HYDROPONICS TECHNOLOGY

MODULE I Plant Nutrition

 PLANT NUTRIENTS

 Nutrients in hydroponics are dissolved in water, mostly in inorganic and ionic

forms.
 Essential elements for plant growth are supplied using specific chemical
combinations.
 Establishing a nutrient solution with a favorable ion ratio is crucial for plant
growth in hydroponic systems.
 Nutrients must be in an available form for plant absorption.
 Plant uptake mainly occurs in ionic forms (cations and anions).
 Examples of nutrient absorption: Nitrogen is absorbed as ammonium (NH4+,
cation) or nitrate (NO3−, anion).
 Various standard solutions exist, e.g., Hoagland and Snyder, Hoagland and Arnon,
Steiner, Bollard, etc.
 These solutions serve as general guidelines but may not be adapted to specific
growing conditions.
 Nutrient solution function: Provides plant roots with water, oxygen, and essential
mineral elements in soluble form.
 Typically contains inorganic ions from soluble salts of essential elements.
 Some nutrient solutions may include organic compounds like iron chelates.
 NITROGEN

 Nitrogen (N) is crucial for amino acids in proteins and chlorophyll.

 Nitrogen is mobile within plants and redistributes from older to new growth during
deficiency.
 Deficiency symptoms appear first on older, lower leaves as yellowing or purple
coloration.
 Foliar nitrogen levels typically range from 3–6% depending on species and growth stage.
 Ammonium can also be used, but excessive levels can be harmful to plants, leading to
toxicity.
 Excess nitrogen causes lush, soft tissue growth and exacerbates calcium disorders like
tip burn.
 In hydroponics, nitrogen, when absorbed as nitrate, converts to ammonia and integrates
into the amino acid glutamine.
 Common nitrogen sources in hydroponics include nitrate from calcium or potassium
nitrate fertilizers.
 High levels of ammonia-N in hydroponics accelerate nitrogen uptake and reduce calcium
uptake.
 Uptake of ammonia can lower the pH in the nutrient solution as plants release positive
hydrogen ions to balance the charge in the root zone.
 POTASSIUM
 Potassium (K) is essential for proteins, carbohydrates, fats, chlorophyll, and enzymes in carbohydrate metabolism.
 Regulates ion movement through membranes and influences water status in stomatal apertures, affecting plant transpiration and
turgor.
 Highly mobile within plants, shifting to new leaves as needed; deficiency symptoms first appear on older, lower leaves.
 Foliar symptoms may include scorched areas on older leaves, reduced growth, and susceptibility to fungal diseases.
 Healthy foliage typically contains potassium levels ranging from 4–7%, depending on species and growth stage.
 In hydroponics, potassium is supplied as potassium nitrate, monopotassium phosphate, and may include potassium sulfate.
 Potassium requirement during vegetative growth is almost equal to that of nitrogen for most species.
 Significant impact on fruit quality, influencing acidity, flavor, firmness, ripening disorders, color,
and shelf-life.

Symptoms of K+ deprivation in Arabidopsis thaliana: Root systems of

10-day-old in vitro plants on (a) high-K and (b) low-K media show
preferential inhibition of the first-order lateral root growth in low-K.
Root system branching of 16-day-old in vitro plants on (c) high-K and
(d) low-K media with enhanced branching to higher orders in low-K.
Root hairs of in vitro plants on (e) high-K and (f) low-K media. Shoots
of 16-day-old in vitro plants on (g) high-K and (h) low-K media with
symptoms of K+ deficiency on leaves in low-K. Lateral root apex of (i)
high-K and (j) low-K plants.
 PHOSPHOROUS

 Phosphorus (P) is essential for cell division, growth, and is involved in

photosynthesis, sugar, and starch formation.
 Large amounts are required for seed formation, with fruiting plants
absorbing more phosphorus than vegetative ones.
 Deficiency symptoms manifest first on older, lower foliage as dull green
coloration, progressing to purple and brown as foliage dies.
 Phosphorus deficiency restricts root development due to impeded
sugar production and translocation.
 Shoot growth is constrained, and leaves may be undersized.
 Typical foliar phosphorus levels in healthy plants range between 0.3 and
0.8%.
 In hydroponics, phosphorus is mainly supplied as monopotassium
phosphate.
 Small amounts may come from phosphoric acid if used for water
treatment or nutrient solution pH control.
 SECONDARY NUTRIENTS
 Calcium  Sulfur
 vital component of cell walls and membranes, and is deposited in  Vital for proteins, amino acids, and coenzymes in plant processes.
plants during cell wall formation.  Plays a key role in plant metabolism, used by vitamins thiamine and
 Calcium deficiency causes leaky cell membranes, disrupts cell biotin.
division, leading to abnormal growth.  Limited mobility in plants; deficiency symptoms on youngest leaves, but
 Moves within the transpiration stream from roots to leaf tips and rarely observed due to flexible plant requirements.
developing fruits.  Deficiency shows as a general yellowing of entire foliage, starting with
 Deficiency – tip burn, convex or concave cupping of new leaves, a the youngest growth.
pale marginal band on new foliage.  Unlike other deficiencies, sulfur lack results in a dull but uniform yellow
 In hydroponics, calcium is primarily supplied via calcium nitrate coloration of leaf blades.
fertilizers.  Foliar sulfur levels range from 0.2 to 0.8%.
 Present from sulfate salts like magnesium and potassium sulfate.
 Magnesium
 Magnesium (Mg) is vital for plant photosynthesis and chlorophyll
structure.
 It acts as a cofactor in respiration.
 Mobile within the plant, deficiency symptoms, like yellowing between
veins, appear on older leaves.
 Causes include root zone lack, low light, or excessive potassium in
the nutrient solution.
 Typical foliar levels range from 0.2 to 0.9%.
 In hydroponics, magnesium is supplied via magnesium sulfate or, if
sulfate isn't needed, magnesium nitrate.
 Water supplies may contain magnesium, adjusted in nutrient
formulations.
 MICRONUTRIENTS

Nutrient Functions

Involved with chlorophyll synthesis and in enzymes for

Iron (Fe)
electron transfer

Mangane Controls several oxidation-reduction systems and

se (Mn) photosynthesis

Boron Believed to be important in sugar translocation and

(B) carbohydrate metabolism

Chlorine
Involved with oxygen production in photosynthesis
(Cl)

Involved with enzyme systems that regulate various metabolic

Zinc (Zn)
activities

Copper
A catalyst for respiration; a component of various enzymes
(Cu)
Molybde
Involved with nitrogen fixation and transforming nitrate to
num
ammonium
(Mo)
Nickel Necessary for proper functioning of the enzyme, ureae, and
(Ni) found to be necessary in seed germination
 BENEFICIAL NUTRIENTS

 Silicon (Si):
 Enhances plant structural integrity and resistance to pests and diseases.
 Improves tolerance to environmental stresses, such as drought and high salinity.

 Sodium (Na):
 Facilitates nutrient uptake and water absorption.
 Enhances plant tolerance to certain environmental stresses.

 Cobalt (Co):
 Promotes nitrogen fixation in leguminous plants.
 Plays a role in the synthesis of certain enzymes.

 Nickel (Ni):
 Essential for certain nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
 Plays a role in nitrogen metabolism.

 Vanadium (V):
 Involved in nitrogen metabolism and enzyme activation.
 May enhance resistance to certain pathogens.
DEFICIENCY CHART
 NUTRIENT UPTAKE MECHANISMS

 Root structure: Root hairs are tiny, elongated structures that grow out of the root epidermis.
Root hairs greatly increase the surface area of the root, enhancing the plant's ability to absorb water
and nutrients. Root epidermis contains specialized cells with transport proteins that facilitate the
movement of ions and water into the root.
 Active Transport: Many essential nutrients are present in the soil as ions (charged particles). The
roots use active transport to absorb these ions against the concentration gradient. This process
requires energy, usually derived from ATP (adenosine triphosphate).
 Passive Diffusion: Some nutrients, especially water, can move into the root cells through passive
diffusion, where they move from areas of higher concentration to lower concentration.
 Root Pressure: In certain plants, root pressure can drive the uptake of water and dissolved
minerals. This pressure is created by the active transport of ions into the root, causing water to
move into the roots by osmosis.
 Transpiration : The movement of water through the plant from roots to leaves, known as
transpiration, can create a negative pressure that helps lift water and nutrients upward.
 Mycorrhizal Associations: Many plants form mutualistic associations with mycorrhizal fungi. These
fungi extend the root's reach into the soil, increasing nutrient absorption. In return, the plant
provides the fungi with carbohydrates.
 NUTRIENT FORMULATIONS

 Hydroponic stock solutions divide fertilizer salts into separate parts to prevent chemical reactions in concentrated states.
 Reactions, particularly between calcium, phosphate, and sulfate, form insoluble precipitates.
 Calcium nitrate is dissolved into a separate stock solution (usually 'stock solution A') to avoid reactions with phosphate- and
sulfate-containing fertilizers in 'stock solution B.'
 Once diluted to a working-strength EC with water, these reactions no longer occur.
 Potassium nitrate is split equally between the A and B stock solutions to assist solubility.
 Some nutrient formulations are more complex and may have a number of different stock solution concentrates; often the trace
elements may be contained in a stock solution C, allowing for separate adjustment of these if necessary.
 PREPARATION OF HYDROPONIC NUTRIENT SOLUTION

 Step 1.Research review and total nutrient content selection.

 Begin by researching the specific plant and reading available documents to design an optimal nutrient solution.
 If information is unavailable for the target plant, search for a closely related plant within the same family.
 Example: For Cucumber, research indicates a need for high nutrient elements with a high nitrate to ammonium ratio.
 Choose a total nutrient content of 13.6 meq per liter for the nutrient solution.
 In the table, each column corresponds to an anion, and each row corresponds to a cation.
 Each numerical value in the table relates to a specific salt produced from a combination of an anion and a cation.
 PREPARATION OF HYDROPONIC NUTRIENT SOLUTION

 Step 2 Total N and NO3 to NH4 ratio selection

 In Step 2, focus on selecting the total N (nitrogen) and NO3 to NH4 (nitrate to ammonium) ratio.
 Consider the need to adjust these ratios during plant growth, especially in varying environmental conditions such as light and
temperature.
 Refer to documents published by other researchers for guidance in this step.
 Example: For cucumber, a chosen ratio is total N and NO3 to NH4 as 8.7 and 8.6, respectively.
 If potassium nitrate, calcium nitrate, and ammonium nitrate are available, the table is filled accordingly.
 If concentration of calcium select 2 times more that potassium in nutrient solution then concentration in plants were be equal.
 PREPARATION OF HYDROPONIC NUTRIENT SOLUTION

 Step 3.K and pH selection

 Optimize potassium (K) concentration in the nutrient solution after nitrogen selection.
 Use KH2PO4 and K2HPO4 to adjust nutrient pH; increasing KH2PO4 concentration decreases the pH.
 Note: Two numbers are provided for potassium phosphate, and the 'H' indicates the higher hydrogen (H) concentration.
 The top and bottom numbers correspond to KH2PO4 and K2HPO4, respectively.
 PREPARATION OF HYDROPONIC NUTRIENT SOLUTION

 Step 4.Optimization of other element concentration

 Finally SO4, Mg, Na and Cl concentration were selected and entered in our table.
 HOAGLAND SOLUTION

 Developed by Hoagland and Snyder in 1933.

 Modified by Hoagland and Arnon in 1938, and further revised by Arnon in
1950.
 Widely recognized as a standard hydroponic nutrient solution.
 More than 20,000 citations listed by Google Scholar, indicating its
scientific significance.
 Comprises all essential elements for plant nutrition.
 Suitable for supporting normal growth in a diverse range of plant species.

Dennis Robert Hoagland

 STANDARD NUTRIENT FORMULATION

ppm (mg/L) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

K 132.93 187.28 241.24 312.79 236.15 237.33 89.54 157.57 261.57 302.23 430.08 312.79
Ca 136.27 36.07 149.09 163.52 200.39 160.31 161.11 120.23 184.76 172.34 220.43 160.31
Mg 19.69 18.71 37.19 49.34 48.61 24.31 55.90 48.61 49.10 50.55 36.46 34.03
N as NH4+ 0.00 4.90 2.10 18.91 0.00 28.01 19.61 0.00 0.00 0.03 0.01 17.51
Na 0.00 0.23 1.15 0.46 0.00 0.46 0.00 2.07 0.46 0.69 8.74 0.69
Fe 36.86 2.79 4.02 0.00 1.44 1.12 1.12 5.03 1.34 1.90 7.10 0.84
Mn 0.00 0.62 1.23 0.00 0.50 0.11 0.14 0.40 0.62 1.98 2.40 0.55
Cu 0.00 0.06 0.01 0.00 0.02 0.03 0.00 0.02 0.01 0.10 0.04 0.04
Zn 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.05 0.13 0.13 0.05 0.11 0.10 0.12 0.03
N as NO3 123.82 77.46 161.50 226.63 210.10 196.09 112.75 112.05 167.80 201.28 241.62 224.11
P 103.45 42.74 64.74 40.89 30.97 61.95 71.24 61.95 30.66 59.78 69.69 38.72
S 25.97 27.90 54.51 65.09 64.13 32.07 96.84 64.13 111.59 67.98 87.22 44.89
Cl 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.64 1.77 0.00 0.53 0.00 0.00 13.47 0.00
B 0.00 0.28 1.19 0.00 0.46 0.27 0.10 0.40 0.43 0.30 0.34 0.27
Mo 0.00 0.41 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.05 0.00 0.03 0.05 0.19 0.06 0.34

1. Knop, 4. Gravel Culture Japan, 7. Shive and Robbins 1942, 10. Cooper 1979,
2. Pennings-feld North Africa, 5. Arnon and Hoagland 1940, 8. Hacskalyo 1961, 11. Research Centre Soil-less culture,
3. Pennings-Feld Carnations, 6. Dennisch R. Hoagland USA, 9. Steiner 1961, 12. Naaldwijk cucumber.
 CONDITIONS THAT EFFECT NUTRIENT UPTAKE

 Temperature and humidity

 Not only does nutrient uptake in general fall, but the proportions in which the major elements (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium)
are absorbed also change.
 High potassium levels in the nutrient solution may compensate for low light in crops like heated greenhouse tomatoes.
 Time of the day
 in general both nitrogen and potassium uptake rates are lowest at night and reach a maximum during the brightest part of the day.
 Light levels
 If the crop is covered with heavy shading which cuts out 50–67% of the light, then there is likely to be decreased uptake of nitrogen,
potassium, phosphorus, calcium and magnesium.
 Root health and size
 Root diseases that adversely affect the health of the root system and cause root death will also result in a reduction in nutrient
uptake
 Aeration and oxygenation
 At low oxygen levels, potassium can actually leak from the roots back into the nutrient solution, stressing the plant and causing
imbalances with the nutrient ratios in the formulation