Nutrients: Difference between revisions

 

== The sequence of nutrition ==

The biochemical sequence depicts the order in which nutrients are required by the plant and the interconnections between nutrients.

 

High concentrations of one nutrient can decrease the bioavailability of another, this is known as nutrient antagonism. For example, high Nitrogen will decrease the availability of Boron.

 

 

Most deficiencies present as a color change on the leaves, moving from the center outwards or from the edge of the leaf moving inwards. Deficiencies can appear on older leaves first or newer leaves first. Mobile nutrient (such as NPK) deficiencies will show on older leaves first as the plant moves nutrients to the younger leaves. Deficiencies will remain in leaves that have already finished growing even after it is remedied in fresher leaves. This means you must be patient in remedying mobile deficiencies

 

Nutrients can be added to the growing medium before planting if possible, to avoid deficiency.

 

[[File:SoilpHNutrientLockout.png|thumb|none|400x400px|The availability of nutrients in soil at different pH]]

Nutrient lockout occurs when the pH is too high or too low for the plant to properly absorb nutrients. This leads to a deficit of necessary nutrients for growth and/or survival. A nutrient lockout can also occur when the grow medium accumulates too much salt or other nutrients.

 

 

If you intend to mix nutrients in water in large quantities and leave it to sit for a period of time one should consider the nutrients used and how they may change over time. When mixing organic nutrients in water they will respire aerobically for a period of time, until they run out of oxygen and then begin to respire anaerobically. This destroys some of the bacteria's capabilities and makes for a less effective feed. The water will begin to smell like a pond or an asshole when the bacteria begin to respire anaerobically which is a surefire way to tell. Synthetically derived nutrients may last longer in water but can also become less effective as some nutrients may combine to create less accessible forms of the nutrient for the plant.

==Methods of Nutrient delivery ==

The most simple method of nutrient delivery is by mixing with the water to be used for watering the cultivar. Take note that the [[Growing_mediums|growing medium]] will affect the stability of the pH in the plant's root zone. Organic soils provide more of a pH buffer than hydroponic systems because, in organic soil, there are other organisms that help regulate pH.

Even though nutrients have been added to the growing medium they will not be bioavailable to the plant instantly. Other organisms help in the process of breaking down nutrients so that they are useable by the cultivar, such as [[Growing mediums#Mycorrhizal Fungi|Mycorrhizal Fungi]].

 

Nutrients can be delivered to the plant when dissolved in water via a fine mist, this is the fastest route of administration. It has been postulated that the size of the droplets has an effect on the efficacy of foliar spray but some studies seem to contradict this<ref>Influence of Droplet Size of Foliar-Applied Nitrogen on Grain Protein Content of Hard Red Winter Wheat 2017 -https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.2134/cftm2016.10.0068</ref>. If possible the spray should be applied to the underside of leaves as this is where most stomata reside. Lights should be turned off before foliar spraying to prevent the light lensing through droplets burning the leaf surface.

Foliar spray should not be used to provide emergency nutrients to the plant.

 

Nutrients can be provided to a cultivar via concentrated liquid solutions, dry amendments, organic materials, and even other organisms living in the growing medium.

 

Liquid fertilizer solutions can roughly be broken into two categories: those for the vegetative stage and those useful in flowering.<ref>https://www.hydrostork.com/npk-fertilisers-types-roles/</ref>

 

 

==References==