AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND

EXTENSION UNIT
(Food and Agricultural Research Council)

HYDROPONIC FERTILIZERS
commercialized in Mauritius

(Comparative study of the different

hydroponic fertilizer formulations. available in Mauritius)
11.0 Introduction I
Hydroponics can be defined as the science of growing plants in a
medium, other than soil, using mixtures of the essential plant nutrient
elements dissolved in water. The word hydroponics is derived from
two Greek words: "hydro" (water) and "ponos " (labour).
The plants that are grown in hydroponic are 'fed with a nutrient
solution. The nutrient solution consists of water into which all the
essential elements needed by the plants for their growth and
development are dissolved.

12.0 The Hydroponic utrient Solution 1

Plant requires 16 essential elements for its growth and development.

These are made up of the major elements (nitrogen, potassium,
phosphorus, calcium, magnesi ,ulphur) and also carbon, oxygen
and hydrogen available in the form of water and carbon dioxide. The
minor elements (iron, boron, manganese, copper, zinc, molybdenum,
chlorine) are required in very little amount. These 13 major and minor
elements are mixed in water to gi e the hydroponic nutrient solution.
Research has been carried out to develop different formulations so
that a specific amount of each element is used to prepare the nutrient
solution. This eliminates any problems of toxicity (due to excess
fertilizer) and deficiency (due to limited fertilizer).
Two important components of hydroponic solution are the pH
(acidity) and E.C. (Electrical Conductivity)
pH: The pH value is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity and it ranges
from a value of 1 to 14. ApH less than 7 indicates acidity; 7 is neutral
and above 7 it is alkaline. The pH of the nutrient solution determines
the availability to the plant roots of the various elements found in
nutrient solution. Most plants prefer a pH level between 5.8 to 6.5 for
optimum nutrient absorbtion.
E.C.: Inorganic fertilizer dissolved in water and dissociates into
individual electrically charged units called ions and these ions
conduct electricity. The desired range of ErC. is generally betweenl.9
mS/cm to 2.3 mS/cm.
Hydroponic fertilizer is available or prepared as concentrated solution
A and concentrated solution B. The purpose of preparing two separate
solution A and B is to prevent mixing of element like calcium with
phosphate or sulphate salts.

Three types of fertilizer formulations are commercially available in

Mauritius for use by hydroponic growers and these are:

(a) Chemco Nutrient Solution A and Chemco Nutrient Solution B.

(b) Chemco Granular Fertilizer known as Hydro Packs (A + B).
(c) Individual compound fertilizers in the granular form which are
used to prepare nutrient solution according to specific
guidelines.

PART!

(i) Chemco Nutrient So ion A and Chemco Nutrient r

SolutionB
The hydroponic solution A and hydroponic solution Bare
concentrated liquid feritilizer and are available in the following
consignment.

Fertilizer Available in Price of 1 L of Total Cost

consignment A+ 1 LofB (Rs)
of
Hydroponic
5L Rs30 150
solution A and B
Hydroponic
25 L Rs 20 500
solution A and B
Hydroponic
200 L Rs20 4000
solution A and B

To prepare the final diluted nutrient solution 1 L of concentrated

nutrient solution A and 1 L of concentrated nutrient solution Bare
mixed in 100 L of water. This solution will contain all the nutrients in
the concentration given below at a pH of 5.5 - 6.5 and E.C. of 2.3
mS/cm.
 Element Concentration
Nitrate Nitrogen 200ppmN
Phosphorus 50ppm P
Potassium 300 ppm K
Calcium 180 ppm Ca
Magnesium 50 ppmMg
Sulphur 120ppm S
Iron 3.0 ppm Fe
Manganese 0.3 ppmMn
Zinc 0.3 ppmZn
Copper 0.1 ppm Cu
Molybdenum 0.05 ppmMo

Note: The same formulation is used for any vegetable crop throughout the
whole crop cycle.

(ii) Chemco Granular Fertilizer (Hydro PacksAand B)

"-

The hydro pack fertilizer:s ~re gran lar fertilizers which are available
in three different formulations to cater for three different stages of
plant growth. (see table below)
Stage Formulation Price/Pack
1 Hydro pack 1 (A & B) Rs 800
2 Hydro pack 2 (A & B) Rs 1000
3 Hydro pack 3 (A & B) Rs 1200
Note:
The different stages of the crop cycle can be divided into:
Stage 1- From transplantation of seedling to the development oftbird flower
Stage 2- From appearance offourth flower up to the harvest of econd bunch offruits
. Stage 3- After harvest of s cond bunch offruit to the end of erop cycle

Each pack contains two separate products (A & B) in granular form and
these have to be dissolved separately in 2 containers of70 litres of water
each to give the concentrated nutrient solution stock. Each 70 litres of
this stock solution of A and B needs to be further diluted to give the
diluted nutrient solution. For its application, the final solution is
prepared by diluting 1 L of A plus 1 L of B in 100 L of water. This
solution ill contain all the nutrients in a well balanced formula
essential for hydroponic culture as given below at a pH of 5.5 - 6.5 and
E.C of 2.3 mS/cm.
(iii) Individual compound fertilizers in the granular form
Instead of purchasing the pre-mixed fertilizers, growers can prepare
their own stock solutions using individual compound fertilizers
following recommended guidelines.

The amount and cost of individual compound fertilizers used In

recommended formulation is given below.
Available in
Price/kg Total Price
Fertilizer consignment
(Rs) (Rs)
of
Microelements 20 L 1051L 2100
Calcium Nitrate 25 Kg 22 550
Monopotassium
25 Kg 55 1375
Phosphate (Mkp)
Magnesium
50 Kg 33 1650
Sulphate
Potassium Sulphate 25 Kg 22 550
Monoammonium
25 Kg 45 1125
Phosphate
Potassium Nitrate 25 Kg 24.50 612.50
 The nutrient solution stocks are prepared in two separate 50 L
container (concentrated solution A and concentrated solution B). This
prevents formation of insoluble precipitates of calcium phosphate
and calcium sulphate. Each 50 litres solution of A and B is now in the
concentrated form and need to be further diluted. For application to
. plants, the nutrient solution is prepared by mixing 0.6 litres of
solution A + 0.6 litres of solution B in 100 litres of water. The
resulting nutrient solution should have an E.C. within the range of2.1
2.3 mS/cmanda pH within the range 5.5 - 6.5.

The individual compound fertilizers in the granular form are mixed

according to three different formulations to cater for different stages
of plant growth. These are listed below:

Formulation for preparation of Hydroponic stock Solution A

and Solution B:
Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3
r
Fertilizer Salts Amount Amount Am unt
(kg) (kg) (kg _
Potassium nitrate 2.351 3.396 2.0~ -,---
Monoammonium
0.233 0.116 0
phosphate
Container A 3.750--
Magnesium sulphate 4.375 3.750
(50Lof water)
Potassium sulphate 0 0.940 1.880
Monopotassium 2.048 2.048 2.731
phosphate
Potassium nitrate 2.351 3.396 2.090
Container B
Calcium nitrate 11.579 9.474 10.526
(50Lof water)
Microelements(kanieltra) 1.0 L 1.0 L 1.0 L

ote: The microelements (Kanieltra) used !in the prepar tion of the stock
solution should consi t of the followingmicroelements;
Microelements (Kanieltra) Concentration (% per pint)
Boron 0.5
Copper 0.5
Iron 2
Manganese 0.5
Molybdenum 0.02
Zinc 0.5
 PART 2

The amount of the different fertilizer formulations and their cost with
respect to the crop and its crop cycle are given below:

ote: In all the calculations, it has been assumed that 1 plant uses
1 litre of solution per day throughout the whole crop cycle.

Crop: TOMATO (Crop cycle 6 months) (1256 plants)

Stage 1 = 1 month; Stage 2 = 2 months; Stage 3 = 3 months

Chemco Nutrient Chemco Granular Individual compound

Solution Fertilizer fertilizer formulation
Fertilizer Amount Fertilizer Amount Fertilizer Amount
(L) (No. of
packs)
Cone. Nutr. 2262 Hydro
6 Microelements 30L
Solution A oack I
Hydro
12 Calcium Nitrate 330 kg
Cone. Nutr. 2262 pack 2
Solution B Hydro 18 Monopotassium
90 kg
pack 3 phosphate
Total No.
Magnesium
of Hydro 36 120 kg
sulphate
oacks
Potassium sulphate 60k!!
Monoammonium
6 kg
phosphate
Potassium nitrate 210 kg
Total cost: I Rs 45,240 Rs 38,400 Rs 26 055
Crop: CUMCUMBER AND MELON (Crop cycle: 3
months) (1256 plants)
Stage 1= 3 weeks; Stage 2 = 4 weeks; Stage 3 = 5 weeks
Chemco Nutrient Chemco Granular Individual compound
Solution Fertilizer fertilizer formulation
Fertilizer Amount Fertilize Amount Fertilizer Amount
(L) (No of
acks
Cone. 1131 5 IS L .
Nutr.
Solution 6
165 kg
A
8
45 kg
Cone. 1131
Nutr.
Solution Magnesium
B 19 60 kg
sulphate

Potassium
30 kg
suI hate
Monoammonium
3 kg
, hate
r
Pota sium
105 kg
nitrate
Total
Rs22,620 Rs19,600 Rs13,028
Cost

Crop: SWEET PEPPER ( rop cycle: 5 months) (1256

plants)
Stage 1= 1month; Stage 2 = 2 months; Stage 3 = 2 months
Cbemco utrient Cbemco Granular Individual compound
Solution Fertilizer fertilizer formulation
Fertilizer Amount Fertilizer Amount Fertilizer Amount
(L) (No of
acks
Cone, Nutr. 1885 Hydro
6
Solution A aek I

Cone Nutr. 1885 12

Solution B
12

30

Potassium nitrate 175 kg

Total Cost Rs 37 700 Rs 31200 Rs 21,713
Summary table of cost each commercial nutrient
formulation with respect to specific crop

Fertilizer Tomato Sweet Cucumber/

Pepper Melon
(1256 plants) (1256 plants) (1256 plants)
Chemco Nutrient Rs 45,420 Rs 37,700 Rs 22,620
Solution (A +B)
Chemco Granular Rs 38,400 Rs 31,100 Rs 19,600
Ferti lizer(H ydropack A
+B)
Individual compound Rs 26,055 Rs 21,713 Rs 13,028
fertilizer formulation

Pre-mixed fertilizer materials though easy to use, are relatively

expensive compared to individual compound fertilizers. The pre-
mixed fertilizers leave little room for making changes in
concentrations of individual n trients. r

A comparison of the values for the cost of different commercialized

nutrient solution shows that using the individual compound fertilizer
formulation is the cheapest as compared to the pre-mixed fertilizers.

However the only hassle is that the grower has to weigh individual
fertilizer prior to preparing the concentrated stock solutions.
List of Hydroponic Fertiliser Suppliers

1. .Mauritius Chemical Fertilizer Industry(CHEMCO)

Chaussee Tromelin, Fort Georges
PO Box 344, Port Louis
Phone No.: 2163965
Fax No: 240 9969
(Mr. Ajay Luximon)
2. Bonns Agribusiness
Bonne- Terre
Vacoas
Phone No. 4255922, 761 9760
Fax No: 4261193
(Mr. Gobhurdun)
3. Best Agri Ltd.
13, Jacmin Street,
Roches Brunes
Phone / Fax No.: 467 5631
Mobile No.: 2512021
(Mr. Ajagen Veerapen)
4. Greenworld Company Ltd.
Solferino No.1, Vacoas
Phone No.: 427 8113
Mobile No.: 2544013
. Fax No.: 424 5160
(Mr. Gunsham Boodram)

Agricultural Research and Extension Unit

St. Jean Road, Quatre Bornes
Tel: 230 466 3885 - Fax: 230 464 8809
Email: areu@intnet.mu