23 June 2025

The Importance of Nutrient Management in Controlled Environment Agriculture

23 June 2025

Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) is a technology-based approach toward food production, which aims to optimize plant growth and productivity. CEA systems can include greenhouses, vertical farms, indoor farms, and other structures that provide precise control over the growing environment.

Nutrient management in CEA involves the careful monitoring and adjustment of nutrient solutions to meet the specific needs of different plant species. Key nutrients required by plants include macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur) and micronutrients (iron, manganese, zinc, copper, molybdenum, and boron).

In CEA and hydroponics, the benefits, besides a pesticide-free cultivation, are evident: water recycling, astonishing plant density and unparalleled control over nutrients, yield and cultivation time. Controlled environment agriculture (CEA) can increase crop yields by up to 20 times compared to traditional farming methods. 

Recycling in hydroponics: Unveiling a "self-dysregulating" system

Imagine preparing a fresh batch of nutrient solution for your operation. Initially, all seems promising - the recipe, best case tailored to your crops' needs, with spot-on EC and pH levels. Initial yields soar. However, over time, a gradual decline in yield sets in. Despite optimal conditions in other areas like light and temperature - yields plummet. The decline in yield continues and suddenly yellowing leaves start to pop up. Have you encountered this issue?

Often values like the EC still look fine, but this is where the “danger” of the EC value lies While EC indicates the presence of salts (fertilizer) in the nutrient solution, it fails to specify precisely which nutrient(s) are present. Natural accumulation and depletion of specific nutrients constantly alter the nutrient ratio, which is an inevitable process in all systems. Dumping nutrient solutions in my view is a fundamental error in management, squandering precious resources. It’s literally throwing money down the drain.

In conclusion, the true potential of CEA lies not solely in technological advancements, like fine tuning HVAC or light systems, but also in mastering the art of nutrient solution management. By prioritizing this often overlooked aspect, farms can unlock unprecedented growth while conserving precious resources, like fertilizer and water. It's a win-win scenario - a testament to the symbiotic relationship between technology and nature in modern (indoor) agriculture.

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