Fertiliser programmes

Mixing hydroponic fertiliser yourself ?

The commercially available fertilisers consist of a complete fertiliser supplemented with macronutrients. They are offered by some hydroponics and/or fertiliser companies and vary depending on the hydroponic plant. An example of a fertiliser programme is the hydroponic tomato programme offered by Hydro-Gardens.

In this programme, growers purchase Hydro-Gardens Chem-Gro tomato formula. It has a composition of 4-18-38 and also contains magnesium and micronutrients. To make a nutrient solution, it is supplemented with calcium nitrate and magnesium sulphate, depending on the variety and/or growth stage of the plant.

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Advantages of fertiliser programmes

Disadvantages of fertiliser programmes

Modified Sonneveld recipe / herbs

It is at the discretion of the breeder which fertilizers he uses to produce a nutrient solution according to a recipe. The fertilizers commonly used include:

Advantages of nutrient solution recipes

Nutritional solutions allow fertilizers to be adjusted based on the nutrients contained in water sources. An example: A gardener uses a water source with 30 ppm potassium and produces the modified Sonneveld solution for herbs that requires 210 ppm potassium. It would have to add 180 ppm potassium ( 210 ppm - 30 ppm = 180 ppm ) to the water in order to obtain the amount of potassium required in this recipe.
With recipes, nutrients can be easily adjusted. When a leaf analysis report indicates that a plant has iron deficiency. It is easy to add more iron to the nutrient solution.
Since recipes make it easy to adapt, fertilizers can be used more efficiently than in fertilizer programs. Using recipes can be less expensive than using fertilizer programs.

Disadvantages of nutrient solution recipes

It has to be calculated how much fertilizer has to be added to the nutrient solution. (Link to performing calculations). Some people may feel intimidated by the calculations involved. However, the calculations only require uncomplicated mathematical skills based on multiplication and division.
A high-precision scale is also required for the measurement of micronutrients, since the required quantities are very small. Such a scale can be found on Amazon from 30.- €: e.g .: KUBEI 100g / 0.001g.

This is about the calculation of nutrient solutions for your own needs

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Calculation of the concentrations of nutrient solutions using the following two equations

The calculation of the amount of fertilizer that has to be added to the nutrient solutions is part of a successful hydroponic production. Only multiplication, division and subtraction are used for the calculations; no advanced mathematical knowledge is required.

If you want to know more about the compositions and concentration information, the article series can be too Stoichiometry and a look at the conversion of Mol and grams When specifying the concentration of the individual elements and connections, it is helpful to better understand the complexity of the topic.

If you master the general process, producing nutrient solutions and adjusting the amount of nutrients is child's play.

Fertilizer recipes for hydroponics are almost always given in ppm (in the long form: parts per million). This may differ from the fertilizer recommendations for growing vegetables and fruits outdoors, which are generally given in lb / acre (pounds per acre).

First you have to convert ppm to mg / l (milligrams per liter) using this conversion factor: 1 ppm = 1 mg / l (1 part per million corresponds to 1 milligram per liter). For example, if 150 ppm nitrogen is required in a recipe, 150 mg / l or 150 milligrams of nitrogen in 1 liter of irrigation water are actually required.

Ppm P (phosphorus) and ppm K (potassium) are also used in recipes for nutrient solutions. This also differs from the fertilizer recommendations for growing vegetables and fruits in the field, which use P2O5 (phosphate) and K2O (potash). The fertilizers are also given as phosphate and potash. Phosphate and potash contain oxygen, which must be taken into account in hydroponic calculations. P2O5 contains 43% P and K2O contains 83% K.

Let us check the previous circumstances:

1 ppm = 1 mg / l
P2O5 = 43% P
K2O = 83% K

Nutrient solution tanks are usually measured in gal ( gallons ) in the United States. When we convert ppm to mg / l, we work with liters. To convert liters into gallons, use the conversion factor of 3.78 l = 1 gal ( 3.78 liters corresponds to 1 gallon ). The invoice is also given below for continental interested parties.

Depending on the scale you use to weigh fertilizers, it may be useful to convert milligrams into grams: 1,000 mg = 1 g ( 1,000 milligrams correspond to 1 gram ). If your scale measures in pounds, you should use this conversion: 1 lb = 454 g ( 1 pound = 454 grams ).

Let us summarize these circumstances:

3.78 l = 1 gallon
1000 mg = 1 g
454 g = 1 lb

Now we have all the necessary circumstances. Let's look at an example.

How do you determine how much 20-10-20 fertilizer is needed to deliver 150 ppm N with a 5 gallon tank and a fertilizer injector that is at a concentration of 100:1 is set?

First, write down the concentration you know you want to reach. In this case it is 150 ppm N or 150 mg N / l.

Note that we multiply by 1. This allows you to cancel the units that are the same in the numerator and denominator. Now we can paint "mg N" and get the unit g N / l water.

Continue this process by converting liters into gallons. Most containers are still traded in gallons ( 3.78 liters ). Entertaining here: the metric system was invented by the Britten. If you want a metric result, omit this calculation step.

Now there are only grams of nitrogen left per gallon of water.
We'll get closer to it. Now we want to convert grams of nitrogen into grams of fertilizer. Remember that our fertilizer is a 20-10-20, which means that it contains 20% nitrogen. It can be imagined that 100 grams of fertilizer contain 20 grams of nitrogen. 

So where do we stand now? We calculated how many grams of fertilizer are needed in each gallon of irrigation water. At the moment we have a normally strong solution. Our example prompts us to calculate a concentrated solution of 100: 1. This means that for every 100 gallons of water that are applied, 1 gallon of stock solution is also applied via a fertilizer injector. We also know that our storage tank holds 5 gallons. Below see calculation for metric system (liters).

In gallons

In the calculator: 150 x 1: 1000 x 3.78 x 100: 20 x 100 x 5 is 1417.5 grams on 5 gallons of water (in the storage tank)

After we have deducted everything, we have a gram of fertilizer left. This is the amount of fertilizer we need to put in our storage tank to apply 150 ppm N at a concentration of 100: 1. Multiply and divide and you get the answer 1417.5 grams of fertilizer.

In liters

In the calculator: 150 x 1: 1000 x 100: 20 x 100 x 10 is 1500 grams per 10 liters of water ( in the storage tank )

After we have deducted everything, we have a gram of fertilizer left. This is the amount of fertilizer we need to put in our storage tank to apply 150 ppm N at a concentration of 100: 1. Multiply and divide and you get the answer 750.0 grams of fertilizer.

This means that for every 100 liters of water that is applied, 1 liter of stock solution is also applied via a fertilizer injector. We also know that our storage tank holds 10 liters. 

If we measure in pounds, we have to put 0.75 kg / 1.15 lb fertilizer in our storage tank to apply 150 ppm N with a concentration of 100: 1.

You have just completed one of the two equations. Now let's look at the other one.

We just found that we need to add 750 grams of fertilizer to deliver 150 ppm nitrogen at a concentration of 100: 1. The fertilizer we used was a 20:10:20. In addition to nitrogen, we also add phosphorus and potassium. With the next equation we determine how much phosphorus we supply. This is basically the reversal of the first calculation.

We start with the amount of fertilizer that we put in our tank. The final units are ppm or mg / l. As with the previous calculation, we use our specifications until we receive these units.

Multiply with the concentration of the nutrient solution.

Multiply to convert to liters.

Next, convert milligrams of fertilizer into milligrams of phosphate.

Next we will convert grams of phosphate into grams of phosphorus, assuming that phosphate contains 43% phosphorus.

Finally, we convert grams of phosphorus into milligrams of phosphorus.

When we calculate this, we find that we have added 32.25 mg / l P or 32.25 ppm P. This is the second equation. We can also use them to determine how much potassium we have added. 

We added 124.5 mg / l K or 124.5 ppm K.

With these two basic calculations, you can use any nutrient solution recipe program. How they are used to calculate a recipe can be seen in this article:

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Fertilizer Calculator for Hydroponic Systems & Soil * Version 0.25.7-en * 2025-07 * Basics of nutrient solutions  * Manual/HowTo. More at https://borgmann-aquaponik-hydroponik.ch -  * Download Fertilizer Calculator (³³ *

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The script ( download here ) allows you to create your own fertilizer mix for hydroponics or soil from over 50 different fertilizer salts and over 200 NPK fertilizers can also be used.

Procedure

1) Select the example nutrient solution or specification and display it

Tried and tested nutrient solutions from the literature, see  in the drop down menu Predefined nutrient solutions 

Don't let the years fool you: practically nothing has changed since 1966, only the temperament of the discussions about it. What you should keep in mind is that for several years there have been breeds that require an extremely high dosage (EC value >= 4.0) to thrive. Select a nutrient solution here and click    

In the graphic shown below, the required elements are displayed as bars. Each red bar represents 100% of an element. This graphic facilitates the following mixture of added fertilizer salts.

2) Add fertilizer salts and/or ready-made fertilizer

Select from the Drop-Down  

the first additive.

Indicate the quantity in grams per litre (g/L) or milligrams per litre (ppm). Then click on

In the graphic (above) the quantities are now displayed in relation to the specifications (if you have selected one). This way you can see how exactly the quantity information corresponds to the specifications in percent.

The table also shows what amounts this corresponds to in grams, milligrams (ppm), moles and milli-moles. A column shows you the text Target And Actual value the fertilizer mixture - but only if you have chosen a specification. In the graphic at the bottom of the screen you can see the display as a long shot. Here you can better see the relationships between the individual elements. 

3) Add more substances (fertilizer salts)

To add more substances click on  

After each selection of another substance and quantity, click on   

4) NPK fertilizer add to

The program can also take standard fertilizers into account. These usually only contain the macro-nutrients N (nitrogen) P (phosphorus) and K (potassium). With the button  

<ou can  add another variety of NPK fertilizer that has a different mixing ratio. This means you can combine fertilizer with 10-20-30 and 8-16-24 and see immediately whether the amount of the individual elements is too large or too small. To see the result, after entering the quantity and magnitude (gram or PPM), click on  

5) Search for items in the fertilizer salts/finished fertilizer list

In the input field Search for element in fertilizer additives/prefabricated fertilizers  

(e.g. Fe)

   you can search for an element independently of the rest of the program. All fertilizer salts and finished fertilizers are searched for this element and displayed in a list sorted by content. Please only enter one element and click on 

 The element names are also under the graphic bars at the top and bottom of the page. In the table, the element name is in the left column, its common name is in the column on the right. 

Intention:

This fertilizer calculator was originally only intended to add up various NPK fertilizers and calculate their total NPK at the elementary level. Since this makes little sense without comparative values, a few standard hydroponic fertilizer recipes were added to give the value a certain significance. Further refinements (Ec value, pH value) were added over time, as it is helpful to have prior knowledge of the expected conductivity (EC) and the pH value. The scope requires a different programming language, but since our customers use a wide variety of operating systems, only HTML and JavaScript remained as common denominators. Unfortunately, I'm not a fan of these "languages".

This means you can always have this "calculator" with you, even without internet. A browser (built from 2000? for very old browsers, an untested alternative is commented out) and this HTML page will suffice.

All data is stored on this page and allows you to easily expand the scope as you wish according to your own needs. If you also want the graphical representation without internet access, download the file Chart.js to your local machine and adjust the path in the script: https://borgmann-aquaponik-hydroponik.ch/chart.js... It is version 2.9.4. You can find them on the Internet here: https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/Chart.js/2.9.4/Chart.js - at least that's how it was this morning. Good luck!

PS: If there are errors or useful extensions (including fertilizer), you are worth a message write to me.

The fine print

²) When fertilizer mixtures (NPK + X) are used, it is not possible to calculate the EC and pH because the composition is unknown. The values used are then estimated - and can therefore be viewed as "fantasy". When it comes to empirical values, they are marked with (real).

⁴) The pH and EC values should be viewed with scepticism. Not always are the information provided by the manufacturers correct! - Always check with pH and EC meter -!

 ⚠️ Please note that some of the chemicals used can be toxic, harmful or explosive. The author assumes no responsibility for errors in the program.

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Now that you have the two basic equations for the production of nutrient solutions, we want to use them to calculate the amounts of fertilizer required for a nutrient solution recipe.

If you are not familiar with the two equations, read this first: Hydroponic systems: Calculating the concentrations of nutrient solutions using the two equations.

Here is our problem: We want to use a modified Sonneveld solution (Matson and Peters, Insidegrower) for herbs in an NFT system. We use two 5-gallon containers and injectors set to a concentration of 100: 1 and call them storage tank A and storage tank B. How much of each fertilizer do we have to put in each storage tank ?

You may be asking: why two storage tanks? This is due to the fact that certain chemicals in our fertilizer solution react with each other as soon as they come into contact with each other. In all nutrient solutions ( fertilizer mixtures ) you have calcium, phosphates and sulfates - among other things, these three chemicals for all plants vital are. The last two react with calcium and are no longer present in the form we need in our nutrient solution. They connect to each other and fall to the bottom of the container as white flakes ( precipitates ). Therefore, phosphates and sulfates must be kept separate from calcium and, when introduced into the nutrient solution of the ( system, saved from direct mixing by means of a dosing pump or measuring cup ).

Modified Sonneveld recipe for herbs

These are the fertilizers that we will use. Some fertilizers contain more than one nutrient in the recipe, while others contain only one. Here is a small overview Commercial fertilizer from which you can put together your recipe

The first thing you notice is that we have three sources of nitrogen (calcium nitrate, ammonium nitrate and potassium nitrate), have two sources of potassium (potassium nitrate and potassium phosphate monobasic) and one source of calcium (calcium nitrate) and phosphorus (single-base potassium phosphate). We can start calculating the calcium or phosphorus in the recipe because only one fertilizer provides each nutrient. Let's start with calcium.

The recipe provides 90 ppm calcium. We calculate how much calcium nitrate we need to use to achieve this by using the first of our two equations.

We need to add 895.3 g calcium nitrate to get 90 ppm calcium. However, calcium nitrate also contains nitrogen. We use the second equation to determine how much nitrogen should be added in ppm.

We add 73.4 mg N / l or 73.4 ppm nitrogen. Our recipe provides 150 ppm nitrogen. If we subtract 73.4 ppm nitrogen from it, we have to add 76.6 ppm nitrogen.

Let us now calculate how much single-base potassium phosphate we have to use to deliver 31 ppm phosphorus.

We need to add 262 g of potassium phosphate monobed to get 31 ppm phosphorus. However, potassium phosphate also contains single-base potassium. We use the second equation to determine how much potassium should be added in ppm.

We add 39 mg K / l or 39 ppm potassium. Our recipe provides 210 ppm potassium. If we subtract 39 ppm of potassium from it, we see that we still have to add 171 ppm of potassium.

We have only one other source of potassium, namely potassium nitrate. Let's calculate how much we have to use of it.

We need to add 885 g of potassium nitrate to get 171 ppm of potassium. However, potassium nitrate also contains nitrogen. We use the second equation to determine how much nitrogen should be added in ppm.

We add 61 mg N / l or 61 ppm nitrogen. Our recipe provides 150 ppm nitrogen. We supplied 73.4 ppm nitrogen from calcium nitrate and had to add 76.6 ppm nitrogen. Now we can subtract 61 ppm nitrogen. We still have to add 15.6 ppm nitrogen. The only source of nitrogen that we have is ammonium nitrate.

Let us now calculate how much ammonium nitrate we have to use to deliver 15.6 ppm nitrogen.

We need to add 86.7 g of ammonium nitrate to get 15.6 ppm nitrogen.

At this point we have completed the nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and calcium part of the recipe. For the other nutrients, we only need to use the first equation, since the fertilizers that we use for their supply contain only one nutrient in the recipe.

We need to add 498.5 grams of magnesium sulfate to get 24 ppm magnesium.

We need to add 18.9 grams of Sequestren 330 to get 1 ppm of iron.

We need to add 1.5 grams of manganese sulfate to get 0.25 ppm manganese.

It is easier to weigh small amounts of fertilizers in milligrams. The conversion from milligrams to grams is therefore carried out as follows

We need to add 692 milligrams of zinc sulfate to get 0.13 ppm zinc.

We need to add 0.17 milligrams of copper sulfate to get 0.023 ppm copper.

We need to add 2.8 milligrams of borax to get 0.16 ppm borax.

We need to add 0.12 milligrams of sodium molybdate to get 0.024 ppm molybdenum.

Summary:

Now all calculations have been completed. Now we have to decide in which storage tank, A or B, we give the individual fertilizers. In general, the calcium should be kept in a tank other than the sulfates and phosphates, as they can form precipitates that can clog the drip bodies of the irrigation system. Using this guideline, we can put the calcium nitrate in one tank and the monobasic potassium phosphate, magnesium sulfate, manganese sulfate, zinc sulfate and copper sulfate in the other tank. The rest of the fertilizers can be placed in both tanks.

You should also consider the amount of nutrients in irrigation water. For example, if we use irrigation water that contains 10 ppm magnesium, we only need to add 14 ppm more with our fertilizer (24 ppm Mg, which are required in the recipe, minus 10 ppm Mg in water). This is a great way to use nutrients more efficiently and fine-tune your fertilizer plan.

With some micronutrients, you have to decide for yourself what you want to add. You could do a small experiment to find out whether you need to add 0.12 milligrams of sodium molybdate to your stock solution, for example, or whether you are satisfied with the performance of your plants without this addition.

One last point to consider. Sometimes the calculations don't work as well as here for fertilizers that contain more than one required nutrient, and you may need to add more of a nutrient, than is provided in the recipe to provide the other nutrient.

For example, if you apply calcium nitrate to meet calcium needs, the solution may not contain enough nitrogen. In such cases, you have to decide which nutrient you want to give priority to. For example, you could apply calcium nitrate to meet the plants' nitrogen needs because the excess amount of calcium does not harm the plants. Or you choose to apply it based on the plant's calcium needs because the lack of nitrogen is just a few ppm.

Here you will find what problems there may be with a lack and excess of fertilizer

At this point we can give you recommendations for your plantations with modern analysis technology. Contact us...

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Cause: Soluble salt damage can be caused by over-fertilization, poor water quality, accumulation of salts in aggregate media over time, and/or inadequate leaching. Fertilizers are salts, and in hydroponic systems they are the most common fertilizer. As water evaporates, soluble salts can build up in aggregate media if they are not adequately leached. Irrigation water can also have high levels of soluble salts, contributing to the problem.

The symptoms: Chemically induced drought can occur when the content of soluble salts in the planting substrates is too high. The result is that the plants wilt despite sufficient watering. Other symptoms include dark green foliage, dead and burned leaf edges and root death.

Detection: Soluble salt levels can be monitored/measured by tracking the electrical conductivity (EC) of irrigation water, nutrient solutions and leachate (a nutrient solution drained from the plant container).

Correction: Soluble salts can be leached out with plain water. First, determine the cause of the high soluble salts level and correct it. 

The cause:  Strong temperature changes can interrupt and hinder calcium uptake. Lack of light, cold and/or too humid environmental conditions. Fertilizer level too low. Calcium deficiency can be caused by under-fertilization, a nutrient imbalance or a pH value that is too low. It is also related to moisture management, high temperatures and low air circulation. Calcium is a mobile nutrient and is transported through the plant in the water-bearing tissues. Fruits and leaves compete for water. Low relative humidity and high temperatures can lead to an increased transpiration rate and increased transport to the leaves. In this case, a calcium deficiency can develop in the fruits.

The symptoms:  The apical meristems (these are the dividing tissues of the plant) are deformed and die off without any noticeable symptoms on the oldest leaves. The upper part of the stem and flower bud may bend. Small and deformed leaves on the upper side. Unusually dark green leaves. Premature flower and fruit drop. After a deficiency, the leaves that were developing at the time of the deficiency often show a typical deformation/drying out or a white edge. This is called tip burn and is particularly common in lettuce and strawberries. Browning of the inside of a stem/head, around the growing point like in celery (black heart). Typical symptoms are also blossom end rot on peppers and tomatoes. Symptoms usually first appear as brown leaf edges on new plants or on the underside of the fruit. Blossom end rot in tomatoes and peppers. As symptoms progress, you may see brown, dead spots on the leaves. A lack of sufficient calcium can lead to rot.

Detection: Leaf analysis. Fruits have a poorer shelf life.

Correction :  Make sure the pH is between 5.5 and 6.5. Add calcium nitrate or calcium chloride depending on whether you need the extra nitrogen or not. 

In the greenhouse: Increase the temperature. More light. Without wind, the plant's nutrient transport is reduced - ensure air movement in the greenhouse. 

The cause:  Too little or incorrectly proportioned fertilizer. A pH value that is too low also blocks the absorption of sulfur. At a pH value of 4.0, sulfur absorption stops completely. Too little magnesium.

The symptoms:  Extensive yellowing  of the leaf tissue and the leaf veins. Often the younger parts of the plant first and later the whole plant. Symptoms are more likely to appear in young or freshly growing leaves at the top of the plant. Sulfur is an immobile nutrient. This means that sulfur can only be re-disposed (transported) relatively slowly by the plant. Lime green to yellow discoloration on leaves is characteristic of sulfur deficiency. It starts at the leaf stalk and moves to the leaf edges and tip. As the disease progresses, the entire leaves first turn yellow, then later brown and necrotic and then die completely. Sometimes purple/reddish leaf stalks on the affected leaves or even a purple stem. The symptoms of a mild deficiency are usually limited to the top of the plant. The middle part of the plant is hardly affected, lower leaves almost never.

Detection: leaf analysis.

Correction :  increase the fertilizer dose. Correct the pH: keep it well above 4.0. 5.5 to 6.5 is a good average for many plants. Enrich the soil with Epsom salt / magnesium sulfate / MgSO ₄ : one teaspoon per 2 liters of water (approx. 1% concentration).

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Hoagland's solution (HS) is a hydroponic nutrient solution developed by Hoagland and Snyder in 1933. Modified by Hoagland and Arnon in 1938, and revised again by Arnon in 1950.

It is one of the most popular standard solution compositions for growing plants in the scientific world at least with more than 21,000 citations from Google Scholar - which is not necessarily a quality aspect, see iron content of spinach.

Hoagland's solution provides all the essential elements for plant nutrition and is suitable for supporting normal growth of a wide variety of plant species. The artificial solution described by Dennis Hoagland in 1933, known as Hoagland's solution, has been modified several times, primarily by adding iron chelates and other trace elements.

In Hoagland's 1938 nutrient recipes, known as Hoagland Solutions (1 and 2), the number of trace elements was subsequently reduced to the generally recognized essential elements (B, Mn, Zn, Cu, Mo, Fe, and Cl). Later studies confirmed that their concentrations had been adjusted for optimal plant growth.

In Arnon's 1950 revision, only one concentration (Mo 0.011 ppm) was changed compared to 1938 (Mo 0.048 ppm), while the concentration of macronutrients of Hoagland solutions (0), (1), and (2) remained the same since 1933, with the exception of calcium (160 ppm) in solution. The main difference between solution (1) and solution (2) is the different use of nitrate nitrogen and the ammonium nitrogen base.

Composition and concentrations of macronutrients

in Hoagland's solutions (0, 1, 2) and in Knop's solution

Applications:
Plant nutrients are normally absorbed into the soil solution. Hoagland's solution, originally designed to mimic a (nutrient-rich) soil solution, has high concentrations of N and K, making it ideal for developing large plants such as tomatoes and peppers. 

Components
Salts, acids and complex ions are used to prepare Hoagland hydroponic solution formulations (1) and (2).

• Potassium nitrate, KNO3; Calcium
  Nitrate tetrahydrate, Ca(NO3)2• 4H2O.
  Magnesium sulfate heptahydrate, MgSO4• 7H2O.
  Potassium dihydrogen phosphate, KH2PO4 or
  Ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (NH4) H2PO4
  Boric acid, H.3BO3
  Manganese chloride tetrahydrate, MnCl2• 4H2O.
  Zinc sulfate heptahydrate, ZnsO4• 7H2O.
  Copper sulfate pentahydrate, CuSO4• 5H2O.
  Molybdic acid monohydrate, H.2MoO4•H2O or
  Sodium molybdate dihydrate, Na2MoO4• 2H2O.
  Ferrous tartrate or iron(III)-EDTA− or iron chelate (Fe-EDDHA−)

Components for Hoagland Solution 1

To prepare the stock solutions and obtain a complete Hoagland solution, here are the ingredients:

Table 1

Components for Hoagland Solution 2

To prepare the stock solutions and obtain a complete Hoagland solution, here are the ingredients:

Table 2

Trace element supplement according to DR Hoagland

• One liter of prepared Hoagland solution (supplemental nutrient solution, solution A) contains:
  55 mg Al ₂ (SO ₄ ) ₂
  28 mg KJ
  28 mg KBr
  55 mg TiO ₂
  28 mg SnCl ₂  · 2 H ₂ O
  28 mg LiCl
  389 mg MnCl ₂  · 4 H ₂ O
  614 mg B(OH) ₃
  55 mg ZnSO ₄
  55 mg CuSO ₄  · 5 H ₂ O
  59 mg NiSO ₄  · 7 H ₂ O
  55 mg Co(NO ₃ ) ₂  · 6 H ₂ O

Source among others:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoagland_solution

Image: Dennis Robert Hoagland - Smithsonian Libraries and Archives, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=159882668

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Murashige and Skoog medium  (or  MSO  or  MS0  (MS-zero) ) is the most popular plant growth medium  used   in laboratories worldwide for cultivating plant cell cultures  on agar . MS0  was invented in 1962 by plant scientists Toshio Murashige and Folke K. Skoog during Murashige's search for a new growth regulator.

A number after the letters  MS  indicates the sucrose content of the medium. For example,  MS0 contains  no sucrose,  while MS20  contains 20 g/L sucrose. Together with its modifications, it is the most commonly used medium for plant tissue culture experiments in the laboratory.

As Skoog's doctoral student, Murashige originally set out to search for a previously undiscovered growth hormone in tobacco sap. However, no such compound was found; instead, analyses of tobacco sap and tobacco ash revealed higher concentrations of certain minerals in plant tissue than previously known. A series of experiments showed that different concentrations of these inorganic nutrients significantly enhanced growth compared to existing formulations. Nitrogen, in particular, promoted tobacco growth in tissue cultures.

However, according to recent scientific findings,  MS  medium is not suitable as a nutrient solution for deep water culture or hydroponics , and organic compounds are not required for normal plant nutrition.

Important salts (macronutrients)

• Ammonium nitrate (NH  ₄  NO  ₃  ) 1650 mg/l
• Calcium chloride (CaCl  ₂  · 2H  ₂  O) 440 mg/l
• Magnesium sulfate (MgSO  ₄  7H  ₂  O) 180.7 mg/l
• Monopotassium phosphate (KH  ₂  PO  ₄  ) 170 mg/l
• Potassium nitrate (KNO  ₃  ) 1900 mg/l

Trace salts (micronutrients)

• Boric acid (H  ₃  BO  ₃  ) 6.2 mg/l
• Cobalt chloride (CoCl  ₂  6H  ₂  O) 0.025 mg/l
• Iron sulfate (FeSO  ₄  7H  ₂  O) 27.8 mg/l
• Manganese(II) sulfate (MnSO  ₄  · 4H  ₂  O) 22.3 mg/l
• Potassium iodide (KI) 0.83 mg/l
• Sodium molybdate (Na  ₂  MoO  ₄  · 2H  ₂  O) 0.25 mg/l
• Zinc sulfate (ZnSO  ₄  ·7H  ₂  O) 8.6 mg/l
• Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid iron(III) sodium (FeNaEDTA) 36.70 mg/L
• Copper sulfate (CuSO  ₄  5H  ₂  O) 0.025 mg/l

Vitamins and organic compounds

• Myo-Inositol 100 mg/l
• Nicotinic acid 0.5 mg/l
• Pyridoxine HCl 0.5 mg/l
• Thiamine HCl 0.1 mg/l
• Glycine 2 mg/l
• Tryptone 1 g/l (optional)
• Indoleacetic acid 1-30 mg/l (optional)
• Kinetin 0.04–10 mg/l (optional)

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murashige_and_Skoog_medium, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toshio_Murashige

Image: By Juandev - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=47459533

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Category: Nutrient Solutions

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Possible nutrient deficiencies (sorted by probability)

Contradictions and interactions

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The most common solutions for plant nutrition and plant tissue cultivation today are the formulations from Hoagland / Arnon (1938, 1950) and Murashige / Skoog (1962).

Hoagland and Arnon's basic formulas are replicated in liquid form by many manufacturers and sold as fertilizers to plant breeders, farmers, and consumers. Even the names Hoagland, Knop, Murashige, and Skoog are used as trademarks. Examples include Hoagland's No. 2 Basal Salt Mixture and Murashige and Skoog Basal Salt Mixture.

Hoagland and many other plant nutritionists used over 150 different nutrient solution recipes during their careers. In fact, several nutrient recipes refer to a standard name, even though they have little connection to the original formula. Several recipes were published under the name "Hoagland," and to this day, confusion persists due to the creator's memory loss regarding the original composition. You can find some of the compositions in our nutrient calculator. It's also available for download here for offline use.

Hewitt's Table 30A
Composition of selected standard nutrient solutions, modified from Hewitt (Table 30A). Concentration of elements in ppm (mg/liter).

Hybrid nutrient solutions

Hybrid nutrient solutions, which consist, for example, of macronutrients from a modified  Hoagland solution , micronutrients from a modified  Long-Ashton nutrient solution  and iron from a modified  Jacobson solution  , combine the physiological properties of different standard solutions into a balanced nutrient solution that enables optimal plant growth when diluted to 1⁄3 of the complete hybrid solution (cf. Nagel's Table S4, below).

Nagel's Table S4

Composition of a hybrid nutrient solution modified according to Nagel et al.  Element concentrations in ppm (mg/liter).

Source:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Robert_Hoagland#Hewitt's_Table_30A

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Fertilizer for tomatoes: A recommendation for adaptation, depending on the growth phase

The classic Long Ashton nutrient solution (Hewitt, 1966) is intended as a general-purpose formulation for many plant species and is therefore not optimal for high-yielding fruit vegetables such as tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum). Tomatoes have different nutrient requirements at different stages of development, especially for N, K, Ca, Mg, and P. This information is also directly available in our fertilizer calculator  .

Growth phase (vegetative, approx. up to 4th-5th leaf axis):

• Nitrogen (N): increase to approx. 10–12 mmol/L
• Potassium (K): approx. 4–5 mmol/L
• Calcium (Ca): to 3–4 mmol/L
• Magnesium (Mg): approx. 1–1.5 mmol/L
• Phosphorus (P): approx. 1–1.5 mmol/L
• Iron (Fe): to 0.05–0.1 mmol/L , e.g., by Fe-DTPA
• Sulfur (S): approx. 1–1.5 mmol/L

Flowering phase (beginning of flowering to fruit set):

• Increase N slightly (12–14 mmol/L)
• Increase K significantly (6–8 mmol/L)
• Increase P slightly (1.5–2 mmol/L)
• Ca stable at 4 mmol/L
• Mg to 1.5 mmol/L
• Keep Fe constant

Fruit/harvest phase:

• K to 8–9 mmol/L , for fruit quality
• Ca at 4–5 mmol/L , for blossom end rot prevention
• Mg at 1.5–2 mmol/L
• P constant
• Reduce N slightly (to approx. 12 mmol/L) – promotes generative growth
• S & Fe constant

Image: Peas, cabbage, beans, corn, tomato, radish, and onion. Vick's Garden and Floral Guide (1894), PD by https://openverse.org/

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