Nitrogen Fertilization Inwards Hydroponics

It is a mutual error inward hydroponic gardening to assume that the chemic forms of nitrogen that tin forcefulness out endure used inward hydroponics are the same that tin forcefulness out endure used inward regular reason gardening. Don't larn me wrong, plants inward reason too plants inward hydroponic media role the exact same chemic forms of nitrogen every bit nutrients, what changes dramatically from hydroponics to reason gardening is the surroundings inward which the establish is.

Let us verbalize nigh the available forms of nitrogen first. Plants absorb nitrogen either every bit NO3(-) (nitrate) or NH4(+)(ammonium) ions. Both of these ions furnish nitrogen to the establish but they possess got dramatic differences within the plant's metabolic pathways. Nitrate is absorbed past times the establish piece of cake too provides the materials needed for the synthesis of amino acids too other structures piece ammonia is absorbed chop-chop too causes immediate establish toxicity if acquaint inward highly plenty concentrations.

This is the nous deviation betwixt reason too hydroponic gardening. In hydroponics, most of the nitrogen must endure supplied every bit NO3(-) because the hydroponic media allows ammonium ions to larn toxic exceedingly fast. For example, hydroponic plants tin forcefulness out withstand concentrations of nitrogen (as nitrate) upwards to nigh 250 ppm piece concentrations of nitrogen every bit ammonium are exclusively withstood upwards until nigh xxx ppm. This is the argue why urea cannot endure used every bit a food tabular array salt inward hydroponic gardening to furnish all the nitrogen needed past times the plants.

So if plants inward reason too hydroponic media assimilate the same nutrients, why tin forcefulness out plants inward reason endure fed nitrogen every bit ammonium but hydroponic plants cannot ? The response is placidity simple. Bacteria acquaint within the reason are able to efficiently convert ammonium ions into nitrate ions, effectively reducing the amount of ammonium the establish "sees". In fact, plants inward reason also absorb nitrate, the exclusively deviation is that in that place are bacteria that tin forcefulness out convert ammonium to nitrate, argue why nitrogen tin forcefulness out endure supplied every bit ammonium to plants acquaint inward soil.

So side past times side fourth dimension you lot are searching for a nitrogen food for your hydroponic plants, recall to search for nitrate salts every bit to a greater extent than than 90% of your total nitrogen source. The most of import salts for providing nitrogen every bit nitrate inward hydroponic gardening are potassium nitrate too calcium nitrate. This is of import to remember, every bit using ammonium salts to provide your plant's nitrogen volition ultimately kill them inward hydroponic media ! (below, an picture showing the effects of ammonium fertilizer inward hydroponic plants)
-

Share this post