ABSTRACT
Plants require 13 essential elements for their growth. In addition to these 13 nutrients they utilize carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, which come from water and the atmosphere. The 13 essential elements are categorized in two groups: (1) those needed in relatively large amounts, termed major or macroelements; and (2) those consumed in relatively small amounts, which are called micro or trace elements. The macroelements include nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and sulfur (S). The microelements are iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), boron (B), zinc (Zn), molybdenum (Mo), and chlorine (Cl). Plants cannot live without any one of these elements, hence the term “essential.” We as growers must provide all of these 13 nutrients to the plant. In hydroponics they are all added in the nutrient solution.
