Plant Nutrient Dynamics
7.2 Common Nutrient Deficiencies
A skill that is beneficial for aquaponics producers to keep in their toolbox is the ability to visually diagnose nutrient deficiencies. Once a plant exhibits symptom of a deficiency, severe stress is already occurring. Early detection and diagnosis are important. Process of elimination can help growers successfully identify a nutrient deficiency. Key factors include recognizing where it occurs in the plant (mobile or immobile nutrient); taking note of the general appearance, such as color pattern or overall appearance; and eliminating other factors that may be causing the issue, such as light or heat damage.
· Kentucky State University7.1 Providing and Measuring Plant Nutrients
Nutrients enter the aquaponic system in the fish feed. The amount of nitrogen that is available to the plant is directly related to the protein content of the feed. The higher the protein content, the more nitrogen is available for plant growth. Unfortunately, high protein feeds are very expensive, so feeding a higher protein feed than your culture species requires is cost prohibitive. Nitrogen comes from the breakdown of proteins, whose structural components are made up of nitrogen-rich amino acids.
· Kentucky State University