塚越 覚

In soilless culture systems, all nutrients are supplied to the plants through a nutrient solution that meets the plants' requirements. The composition of the solution refers to the ion concentration of each nutrient in the solution. Many different compositions have been designed, and selection of the proper composition should be based on the plant type, growth stage, target product quality, etc. Nevertheless, the only difference is the proportion of each ion and the concentration. Even a slight change in the nutrient management can have a significant effect on the plant growth and product quality in soilless culture. Therefore, a thorough understanding of the correct nutrient solution is essential for successful plant cultivation even under a controlled environment. This chapter describes a new concept in nutrient management: the quantitative management method.