Nutrient Solution for Hydroponics

Abstract

Hydroponics is a profitable, sustainable agricultural method and environmental friendly technology for growing plants without soil. It is the fastest-growing agriculture sector, rapidly gaining momentum and popularity, and could dominate food production in the future. Nutrient solution and its management are the cornerstone of a successful hydroponic system and are the most important determinant of crop production and quality, which is largely dependent on the extent to which plant nutrients are acquired from the nutrient solution. All nutrients in the solution in balanced ratio are supplied directly to the plants and the composition of the solution must reflect the uptake ratio of individual elements by the crop. A balanced supply of nutrients is a prerequisite for the efficient use of resources, and stabilization of the solution pH, electrical conductivity, O2 level, and temperature is essential for optimum crop yield in hydroponic systems. In this chapter, the composition of the nutrient solution, nutrient availability which is affected by many factors, and the management of the nutrient solution are discussed.