Complete Collection of Soilless Culture Nutrient Solution Formulas and Preparation Methods

The nutrient solution is the key to soilless culture. Different crops require different nutrient solution formulas. At present, many formulas have been published around the world, but they are largely similar, because the earliest formulas originated from chemical composition analysis of soil extract solutions. The biggest difference among nutrient solution formulas is the ratio of nitrogen to potassium. Now let us take a look at the complete collection of soilless culture nutrient solution formulas together!

Preparation of Soilless Culture Nutrient Solution

For soilless culture nutrient solutions, on the one hand, it is necessary to base the solution on the actual needs of crops for various nutrient elements; on the other hand, it is necessary to consider the fertilizer absorption characteristics of crops. In soilless culture, the nutrient solution is the only source of nutrition for crop roots. Therefore, the nutrient solution should include all nutrient elements essential to crops, namely major elements such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and sulfur (S), and trace elements such as iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), boron (B), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and molybdenum (Mo). Different crops and varieties, and the same crop at different growth stages, have very large differences in their actual needs for various nutrient elements. Therefore, when selecting and preparing a nutrient solution, it is first necessary to understand the required amounts of various essential elements for different varieties and at each growth stage, and use this as the basis for determining the composition and proportions of the nutrient solution.

Soilless Culture Nutrient Solution Formulas

1. Formula One: urea 5 grams, monopotassium phosphate 3 grams, calcium sulfate 1 gram, magnesium sulfate 0.5 grams, zinc sulfate 0.001 grams, ferric sulfate 0.003 grams, copper sulfate 0.001 grams, manganese sulfate 0.003 grams, boric acid powder 0.002 grams, dissolved by adding 10 kilograms of water.

2. Formula Two: ammonium nitrate 0.2 grams, superphosphate 0.6 grams, potassium nitrate 0.55 grams, magnesium sulfate 0.54 grams, calcium sulfate 0.08 grams, ferrous sulfate 0.003 grams, manganese sulfate 0.002 grams, boric acid 0.003 grams, zinc sulfate 0.002 grams, ammonium molybdate 0.002 grams, dissolved by adding 2 kilograms of water.

3. Formula Three: potassium nitrate 0.7 grams, calcium nitrate 0.7 grams, superphosphate 0.8 grams, magnesium sulfate 0.28 grams, ferric sulfate 0.12 grams, boric acid 0.0006 grams, manganese sulfate 0.0006 grams, zinc sulfate 0.0006 grams, copper sulfate 0.0006 grams, ammonium molybdate 0.0006 grams, dissolved by adding water.

4. Formula Four: calcium nitrate 0.8 grams, potassium nitrate 0.04 grams, monopotassium phosphate 0.25 grams, magnesium sulfate 0.40 grams, ferrous sulfate 0.015 grams, manganese sulfate 0.004 grams, boric acid 0.006 grams, zinc sulfate 0.0002 grams, copper sulfate 0.001 grams, ammonium molybdate 0.0002 grams, dissolved by adding water.

Classic Nutrient Solutions for Soilless Culture

1. Gericke nutrient solution: The Gericke nutrient solution is the earliest nutrient solution formula used for soilless culture. Its concentration expression method is the number of grams of inorganic salts dissolved in 1000 liters (1 ton) of water.

2. Steiner nutrient solution: The Steiner nutrient solution is used relatively widely internationally and is suitable for the soilless culture of general crops. Its concentration expression method is the number of grams of various salts per 1000 liters (1 ton) of water.

3. Penningsfeld nutrient solution: The Penningsfeld nutrient solution is used for cultivating tomatoes in the NFt method. Its concentration expression method is the number of grams of various salts in 1000 liters (1 ton) of water.

4. Japanese Garden Test General-Purpose Nutrient Solution: The Japanese Garden Test General-Purpose Nutrient Solution was developed and proposed by the Okitsu Horticultural Experiment Station in Japan and is suitable for many vegetable crops, so it is called a general-purpose formula. Its concentration expression method is the number of grams of various salts in 1000 liters (1 ton) of water.

5. Japanese Yamazaki Nutrient Solution Formula: The Japanese Yamazaki Nutrient Solution Formula is a nutrient solution formula prepared by Yamazaki Koya between 1966 and 1976 based on determining the nutrient element absorption concentrations of various vegetable crops, suitable for many different crops.