Hydroponic cultivation is a profitable and sustainable farming technique, respectful of ecosystems. This idea involves growing plants in an aboveground crop, primarily with the nutrient solutions in hydroponics. In the past few years, hydroponic farming has become very popular in agriculture as a farming industry in many parts of the world, due to high-yield production and as an alternative solution to mitigate the current problems associated with traditional farming methods (pollution).
The nutrient solution and its management form the basis of an effective hydroponic system because they determine crop productivity and quality. Because hydroponics provides better control of plant growth, high productivity can be achieved by controlling the quality of the nutrient in terms of the nutrient composition, dissolved oxygen concentration, temperature, pH, and electrical conductivity of the nutrient solution.
Characteristics
In hydroponics, crop performance in terms of the test, quality, nutrition, value, texture, and color of the product are largely dependent on nutrient inputs to plants. For this reason, it is important to ensure that the essential elements of the nutrient solutions in hydroponics are balanced in the ratios required by each plant. This makes the nutrient solution and its management the most critical element in hydroponics.
Aqueous Solution
Nutrients used in soilless culture are in the form of an aqueous solution and consist of artificial chemicals which are man-made in nature and in ionic form for easy absorption by the plant roots. Different crops need different elements essential for growth and should be mixed using a different chemical formula to establish a favorable ion ratio, to promote good growth and plant development. In hydroponic farming, the nutrient solution replaces soil, and it is the one that supplies water, oxygen, and essential mineral elements to the plant roots in an ionic form that can be absorbed by the plant. In hydroponics, it is essential to monitor the nutrient solution at different stages of plant growth because every stage of plant growth requires a different combination of nutrients.
Reactivity
The nutrients in the solution are highly reactive and can have a positive or negative effect on plant production depending on the plant growth stages, quantity, combinations, and balance of the nutrient solution. This means that an imbalance in the composition of the ions in the nutrient solution can inhibit crop development and cause the nutrient solution to become toxic, which can eventually kill the crops. This may be the case when one element is in excessive concentration in the growing medium, which may inhibit the uptake of another element in the same growing medium.
pH
The PH is the most important component of this water-based culture method. PH level can affect crop growth because the elements in the nutrient solution are available for uptake by the plant’s roots in a given range of pH levels, et al. Mayaran. In most hydroponic cultures, the pH ranges from 5.5 to 6.5, which is the range in which plants absorb most elements through the roots. However, an optimal pH for maximum yield depends on plant species, climatic conditions, nutrient solution, and substrates, et al Mitchell.
Substrate
The amount of nutrients supplied to the crops depends on the type of substrate, the crop growth stages, the size of the container, the irrigation system used, and the prevailing climatic conditions. Depending on the way plants grow, some nutrients will deplete faster than others, and water in the solution will evaporate, fertilizer may concentrate and can burn the roots. For this reason, nutrient monitoring is very critical in hydroponics.
Temperature
The nutrient solutions in hydroponics must have a steady temperature. The ideal is 70 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit. The outdoors is a concern system as you will expose plants to changing temperatures. For winter, you can buy miniature water heaters that go inside your reservoir to keep the nutrient solution warm
What constitutes a hydroponics solution?
Plant survival depends on three factors, moisture, respiration, and photosynthesis processes which are available in Hydrogen, Oxygen, and carbon in the air and water, which is the same rule that applies in hydroponics.
The nutrient solution contains two set elements;
Micronutrients. These are the components plants require in large quantities by the plants and include the following. N, P, P, Mg, Ca, S. Each nutrient has its own role in plant development. Therefore obscene of one nutrient may slow the whole process of plant growth and development.
Macronutrients. These are elements plants require in small quantities and include the following; Zn, B, Fe, and Mn.
Kinds of nutrient solution.
Synthetic solution.
This is from artificial chemicals which are man-made in nature. They are more concentrated than the organic solution. These nutrient solutions for hydroponics can adapt to the specific requirements of the plant and are generally cheap compared to organic.
Organic solution.
They are manufactured with natural ingredients, e.g. fish meal emulsion, seaweed flour, and compost tea. These are less concentrated solutions and are hard to find. Furthermore, they are more expensive than synthetic solutions.
A liquid solution.
This is the most commonly used type of solution and is readily available in market stores. The benefits of utilizing this solution are that they are quickly absorbed by plant roots. And also are easy to use even for beginners.
A powdered solution.
These solutions come in powder form and are mixed with water before using them. They are not costly as compared to other types of solutions. This solution’s setback is that they are not easy to handle and plant roots do absorb them quickly.
It is therefore crucial for any farmer who wants to embark on hydroponics to first clearly understand the nutrient solution and its management. Extensive research and training on the plant to be cultivated and the nutritional requirements of this crop in terms of essential elements is required before establishing a hydroponic system. Since different crops need different nutritional solutions, growing the wrong crop in the wrong solution can cause the system to fail.
References
Yang T, Samarakoon U, Altland J, Ling P. Photosynthesis, biomass production, nutritional quality, and flavor-related phytochemical properties of hydroponic-grown arugula (Eruca sativa Mill.) ‘standard’ under different electrical conductivities of nutrient solution. Agronomy. 2021;11:1340. DOI: 10.3390/agronomy11071340
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