![]() In other horticultural scenarios, tap water or groundwater may suitable and convenient, depending on the local water quality. However, you may have to add more minerals or micronutrients that would otherwise be present in tap water. Rainwater is a good option for hydroponics as you won't have to worry about the initial salt concentration and it can be collected from greenhouse roofs.ĭeionized water also provides a high level of control and consistency. If your growing setup recirculates irrigation water, you must be cautious of the salt levels of your water source, as salinity (sodium chloride or NaCl) can build over time and harm plant growth. If you're keen to practice, you can look up the atomic weights of each element to calculate this conversion yourself using the standard atomic weights of P, K, and O (retrieved from the 2018 Standard Atomic Weights in the CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics): P 2 O 5 concentration = fertilizer concentration ⋅ percent weight of P 2 O 5 \small P_2O_5 \space \text \space K_2O / 1.20460 weight of K = weight of K 2 O /1.20460 Since the fertilizer concentration is 1 g/L, you can use the equation in Step 2 to calculate the resulting ppm of P 2O 5 and K 2O using the percent weights of P 2O 5 and K 2O. Bonus step: Calculate concentrations of other elements Therefore, we should add 100 g fertilizer to 100 L of water to achieve 200 ppm N.Ĥ. ![]() Since we are using a 100-L water tank, the calculation is as follows:įertilizer (g) = 1 g/L of fertilizer * 100 L = 100 g You can now use the fertilizer concentration of 1 g/L as a mixing ratio for any volume of water using the formula:įertilizer (g) = fertilizer concentration (g/L) * water volume (L) Calculate the weight of fertilizer to be added Inserting our values, we get:įertilizer concentration (mg/L) = 200 mg/L N / 0.2 = 1000 mg/L = 1 g/Lģ. Percent weight is read from the label, and can be written as a decimal (20% = 0.2) or as 20 g N / 100 g fertilizer. The formula is:įertilizer concentration (mg/L) = nitrogen concentration (mg/L) / percent weight To find how many mg/L of fertilizer to add, divide the nitrogen concentration by percent weight of N. Now we know how many mg/L of nitrogen we should add to water. Nitrogen concentration (mg/L) = 200 ppm = 200 mg/L nitrogenĢ. So, rewrite the units of the desired concentration of nitrogen: You should know that ppm is the same as mg/L (mass of solute per volume of water). Follow these steps to find the nutrient solution recipe: From the label, we know that our fertilizer is comprised of 20% nitrogen, 8% phosphate, and 20% potash by weight. For this example, we'll be using a soluble fertilizer with 20-8-20 on the label. What if you want to find out the hydroponic nutrients by hand? Let's say you have a 100-L water tank, and want to calculate how much fertilizer to add to achieve 200 ppm nitrogen (a common recommendation for many greenhouse crops). Be satisfied! By learning to mix fertilizer solution, you will become a more knowledgeable horticulturist, and know exactly what you are feeding your plants.By correctly calculating your nutrient formula, you will help ensure a consistent growing environment for plants, leading to better results. ![]() By mixing a custom solution, you gain control over every macro- and micronutrient your plant will get.
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