The concepts of nutrition and nutrients are often overlooked, merely blended together, or considered as the same or interchangeable idea. Mengel and Kirkby (1982) best described the difference between nutrition and nutrients as nutrition being the "supply and absorption of chemical compounds needed for growth and metabolism" and nutrients as simply being "chemical compounds required by an organism" for whatever undefined reason.
Only 16 elements, of the 92 natural mineral elements known, are considered essential nutrients for the growth of higher plants:
Bracketed elements are considered important, but not essential, for plant growth.
The classification of nutrient elements into the macro- or micronutrient category is purely arbitrary at best if based solely on the physiological requirements of the plant. For example, often the leaf tissue content of Mn is far in excess of the plant's physiological requirements for Mn . The classification of elements into macro- and micronutrients, based on biochemical concerns, is probably more sensible and appropriate.
Living plants consist of 27% organic matter (stems, roots, leaves, flowers and fruit), 70% water and 3% minerals (inorganic ions) (Mengel and Kirkby, 1982).
Successful cultivation of greenhouse vegetable crops on Grodan® growing media requires an understanding of plant nutrition. It is beneficial to understand the role(s) of each essential mineral within the plant in order to detect early symptoms of nutrient deficiency. Nutrient deficiency depends on two key factors:
1. The role of a particular nutrient within a plant
2. Whether or not that element can be translocated from one area of the plant to another.
The guide has been written to provide greenhouse owners and managers with an overview of current best practice.
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Key leaders from Mexico’s horticultural sector came together in Querétaro for the Designed to Grow Roundtable, an event hosted by Grodan to foster dialogue, share experiences, and build strategic alliances among growers, technical experts, and industry stakeholders.
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Grodan and Philips Horticulture LED Solutions are further exploring opportunities for growers to reduce energy costs through an efficient approach to LED lighting and effective root zone management, combined with climate control and active dehumidification. Having full control of all aspects of the cultivation strategy offers unique opportunities for producing a high-quality, year-round tomato crop with reduced energy input and lower costs.
Discover strategies for achieving consistent strawberry production. Learn how to flatten peaks, ensure steady harvests, and create a balanced workload for improved financial stability and year-round yields.
We are a global leader in the supply of innovative stone wool substrate solutions for the professional horticultural based on Precision Growing principles.
