Challenges of using organic fertilizers in hydroponic

production systems
K.A. Williams and J.S. Nelson
Kansas State University, Department of Horticulture, Forestry and Recreation Resources, 2021 Throckmorton
Plant Sciences Center, Manhattan, Kansas 66506-5506, USA.

Abstract
In countries that allow organic food production to occur in hydroponic
production systems, use of organic nutrient sources is increasing for several reasons,
including the ability to obtain organic certification for food crops and/or to reduce
nitrate levels in crops that are consumed by humans. These studies report on the
production of butterhead lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. ‘Rex’) in nutrient film technique
(NFT) culture with conventional fertilizer versus a formulated organic fertilizer
product line. As an overview from our experiences, using organic instead of
conventional fertilizers in recirculating culture generates new challenges for growers:
achieving plant yields that occur with inorganic nutrient sources is more difficult; pH
fluctuates more dramatically; only limited products that meet organic certification
requirements are available to adjust pH; electrical conductivity readings are not an
optimal method on which to base nutrient additions; and organic nutrient sources
may contain excessive (e.g., micronutrients) or unneeded (e.g., sodium) constituents
that necessitate routine ion-specific monitoring.

Keywords: bibb lettuce, Lactuca sativa L. lettuce, nutrient film technique

INTRODUCTION
In the United States, growers who use hydroponic systems such as nutrient film
technique (NFT) to produce food crops are increasingly exploring the use of organic nutrient
sources. As the market for organic food continues to expand, one typical requirement for
organic certification by American growers is that production inputs be listed by the Organic
Materials Review Institute (OMRI, 2015; www.omri.org). Another reason for the increasing
interest in using organic nutrient sources in hydroponics is that lowering use of
conventional, nitrate-based fertilizer sources may have the potential to reduce nitrate levels
in food crops that are consumed by humans (e.g., Gorenjak et al., 2012).
Liquid organic fertilizers used in hydroponic systems are typically concentrated
solutions of organic nutrients that are diluted for use and may include, for example, fish
emulsions and hydrolysates, or commercially-available multi-component product lines that
require several products to be used in tandem to provide a complete fertilizer program (e.g.,
Kimitec soluble organic nutrients (Kimitec, 2011; www.kimitec.es/en; Almeria, Spain)
distributed by HortAmericas (Fort Worth, TX, USA) in the United States). When used at
recommended rates, marketable plants can be attained by using solely organic nutrient
sources. However, challenges with organic fertilizer use remain.
Limited research with organic fertilizer use in NFT hydroponic systems has been
reported. Atkin and Nichols (2004) described reductions in growth rates of lettuce plants
produced with organic nutrient sources. We have conducted a range of experiments with
organic versus conventional nutrient sources in NFT hydroponic systems while growing
butterhead lettuce; details from two of these are presented. The objective of this paper is to
provide a broad overview of what we have learned regarding the challenges that growers
face when adopting use of liquid organic fertilizers in hydroponics and recirculating culture
compared to the conventional standard of using soluble, inorganic nutrient salts in such
systems. Nitrate levels from lettuce produced in NFT hydroponic systems with organic or
conventional nutrient sources are also compared.

  Acta Hortic. 1112. ISHS 2016. DOI 10.17660/ActaHortic.2016.1112.49 365

XXIX IHC – Proc. Int. Symp. on Water, Eco-Efficiency
  and Transformation of Organic Waste in Horticultural Production
Eds.: S. Ortega-Farias et al.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Two experiments were conducted in the glass greenhouse range of Kansas State
University’s Throckmorton Plant Sciences Center. Experiment “day 1” occurred when lettuce
transplants were set in NFT hydroponic troughs. The dates of the experiments were as
follows: Summer 2012 from May 29 (day 1) to July 3 (day 35) and Fall 2012 from September
12 (day 1) to November 15 (day 63). Experimental designs for both experiments were
randomized complete block (RCBD) with three blocks, or three replications. An
experimental unit consisted of one NFT trough with six heads of lettuce.
Butterhead lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. ‘Rex’) seed was germinated in 5-cm black net
pots in a rockwool substrate. Two weeks after sowing, seedlings were transplanted into a
nutrient film technique (NFT) production system with closed-top channels. Constantly
recirculating nutrient solution was aerated with air stones. The water source for all
experiments was municipal from the City of Manhattan, Kansas, USA, with a nitrate level of
<0.4 mg L-1 NO3-N.
The inorganic nutrient regimen (Inorg) for all three experiments was adapted from
optimal nutrient rates published by Cresswell (1991) for NFT lettuce production (Table 1).
Inorganic nutrient solutions were formulated from NH4H2PO4, NH4NO3, KNO3, (NH4)2SO4,
Ca(NO3)2, along with micronutrients. The organic nutrient regimen (Org) was based on a
modified Kimitec program that included the use of OMRI-listed potassium magnesium
sulphate (KMS) instead of KatonTM. In Summer 2012, EspartanTM (2.7N-1.3P-2.2K), CaosTM
(10.5% Ca), Tunda MixTM (0.1% Cu, 2.5% Fe, 1.4% Mn, 0.1% Mo, 0.2% Zn) and potassium
magnesium sulfate (KMS; 0N-0P-18.3K, Diamond K Gypsum Inc., Richfield, VT, USA) were
mixed as a full part organic regimen. In Fall 2012, BombadierTM (8N-0P-0K) was added as a
supplemental organic nitrogen source. To better suit the nutritional needs of lettuce plants
at different stages of development, a reduced nutrient concentration was applied to juvenile
plants: a low EC of about 1.8 dS m-1 (‘low phase’) was used for the first two weeks after
transplant into the NFT system. Then, the ‘high phase’ nutrient regimen was implemented
for the remainder of the production cycle (Table 1).

Table 1. Nutrient concentrations applied in recirculating culture for inorganic (Inorg) and
organic (Org) regimens in NFT experiments. During the first two weeks after
transplant, a lower EC level was maintained (low phase); EC was increased (high
phase) for the remainder of the production cycle.
Org1 Org Orgz Org
Inorg Inorg
Low phase High phase Low phase High phase
Low phase High phase
Summer2 Summer Fall Fall
(mg L-1) (mg L-1)
1.8 dS m-1 2.2 dS m-1 1.9 dS m-1 2.3 dS m-1
NO3-N 75 150 ≤5 ≤5 ≤5 ≤5
NH4-N 20 40 43 53 44 67
PO4-P 20 40 21 26 10 13
K 105 210 85 93 60 77
S 42.5 85 60 60 60 60
Ca 60 120 69 69 69 69
Mg 25 50 30 30 30 30
Cu 0.05 0.1 0.26 0.26 0.2 0.2
Zn 0.05 0.1 0.26 0.52 0.52 0.52
Fe 1.5 3.0 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5
B 0.25 0.5 - - - -
Mo 0.025 0.05 0.26 0.26 0.26 0.26
Mn 0.25 0.5 3.6 3.6 3.6 3.6
1Organic fertilizer regimen was comprised of EspartanTM, TundaTM, CaosTM, BombadierTM (Kimtec; Almeria, Spain), and KMS.
2Indicates season in which experiment occurred.
Data collected included fresh and dry weights of the shoot tissue. Electrical
conductivity (EC) and pH of the recirculating solutions were measured one to two times per

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day using a hand-held pH/EC meter (Hanna Instruments, Ann Arbor, MI, USA) that was
calibrated bi-weekly. Nutrient solution pH was adjusted using 0.8N HCl to decrease pH and
0.8 N NaOH to increase pH. A dual-ion meter (CleanGrow CG001 Meter, Little Island Cork,
Ireland) was used to daily monitor NH4 mg L-1 and NO3 mg L-1 in the recirculating solution;
results from these portable ion probes were highly correlated to lab analyses of check
samples.
To measure differences in petiole concentrations of NO3-N, leaf petioles were
harvested and analyzed on days 35, 49, 56, and 63 of the fall 2012 experiment. A 5-cm length
of leaf petiole tissue was harvested from the youngest fully expanded leaf from three heads
of lettuce per trough. The three petioles were combined and liquefied. The petiole sap was
analysed for NO3-N content using a CARDY meter (Horiba Ltd., Japan).
All data were analysed via SAS ver. 9.1.3 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA) using the
PROC MIXED procedure to determine standard error of the least square means. Standard
errors were calculated and paired t-tests were used to determine treatment differences.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Challenge 1: matching growth compared to inorganic nutrient sources

In both the summer and fall experiments with butterhead lettuce ‘Rex’, shoot fresh and
dry weights were all lower in the organically-fertilized treatment compared to the
inorganically-fertilized treatment (Table 2), despite increasing the organic fertilizer rate for
the fall experiment. Atkin and Nichols (2004) reported a parallel result. The same growth
from organic nutrient sources as would be achieved with inorganic nutrient sources can be
accomplished, but nutrient regimens must be optimized.

Table 2. Fresh and dry weights ± standard error of lettuce ‘Rex’ produced in NFT
hydroponics from treatments with inorganic (Inorg) and organic (Org) fertilization
regimes during summer and fall greenhouse experiments; n=3 and number of
heads per n=4.
Fresh weight Dry weight Fresh weight Dry weight
(g) (g) (g) (g)
Summer1 Summer Fall Fall
Inorg 245±14 8.7±0.3 267±14 15.6±1.7
Org 155±8 5.8±0.5 177±4.5 10.3±0.8
1Indicates season in which experiment occurred.

Challenge 2: pH management
Immediately after adding nutrients to reservoirs (Table 1), increases in pH up to 8.5 in
organic treatments were observed – an increase of over two units – that required acid
additions over two to three days to return to optimal pH. Inorganic nutrient additions
tended to result in much smaller shifts in pH levels, making it easier to optimize pH within a
range of 5.5 to 6.2 with acid and base additions (Figure 1).
It is possible that microbial activity associated with addition of the carbon source in
organic fertilizers contributes to rapid pH increase. For example, in the summer experiment,
µg CO2-C (g-1 H2O 48 h-1) was measured on samples of recirculating solution over the course
of the production cycle. An overall increase in the amount of CO2-C was detected
immediately following nutrient addition during the ‘high phase’, with Inorg treatments
generating <20 µg CO2-C and Org treatments generating 20 to 40 µg CO2-C. In a similar
spring experiment (details of methods not reported here), a 15- to 20-fold increase in the
amount of CO2-C was observed immediately following nutrient addition, with Inorg
treatments generating <20 µg CO2-C and Org treatments generating 300 to 450 µg CO2-C.
Carbon dioxide is also produced via root respiration, so some of the measured CO2-C may
have been contributed from this source.

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Figure 1. Fertilizer effect on solution pH in the ‘high phase’ nutrient regimen during the
Summer 2012 experiment with butterhead lettuce ‘Rex’; n=3; standard error of
the least square means estimate = 0.11. Arrows on the x-axis indicate timing of
addition of fresh nutrients.
Finally, the materials that growers can use to adjust recirculating solution pH in
certified organic production do not include inorganic acids and bases like sulphuric acid or
sodium hydroxide. Instead, materials must be listed by OMRI and include microbially-
produced acids, like some citric acids, and 40% B-hydroxytribarallylic acid (SaferGro pH
Down, JH Biotech Inc., Ventura, CA, USA) or alkali-extracted humic acids from leonardite
(SaferGro Humax, JH Biotech Inc., Ventura, CA, USA). These materials are weaker than their
inorganic counterparts, so greater volumes are required to accomplish a similar adjustment
in pH.

Challenge 3: EC management
Conventional hydroponic growers often rely on routine electrical conductivity (EC)
measures to determine when nutrient additions to recirculating solution are needed. This
measure is not as meaningful with organic nutrient sources because uncharged ions do not
contribute to the measurement and many organic molecules do not all have charge until
microbial degradation begins. As such, an EC increase of up to 3 units (dS m-1) was observed
over two days following addition of organic nutrients that then tended to decrease slowly.
Figure 2 shows differences in EC between Inorg and Org treatments during the ‘low phase’ of
the summer experiment.
In addition, at rates of application that resulted in commercially acceptable plant
growth, EC levels were higher in Org than Inorg treatments by about 0.5 dS m-1, though
essential nutrient content was generally not higher in Org treatments (Table 1). This
highlights the phenomenon of plant non-essential salts, such as sodium and chloride, often
being present in organic nutrient sources. These elements contribute to EC, but are not
necessary for plant growth in the quantities present. Because it is important for a grower to
know what nutrients are contributing to EC, this may also necessitate the need for more ion-
specific measurements as opposed to producers relying on EC to make nutrient addition
decisions.

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Figure 2. Fertilizer effect on electrical conductivity measured in the recirculating solution
during the ‘low phase’ of the Summer 2012 experiment with butterhead lettuce
‘Rex’; n=3; standard error of the least square means estimate = 0.05. One-way
arrow on the x-axis indicates tap water addition and two-way arrow indicates
addition of fresh nutrients.

Why organic hydroponics?

Given these additional production challenges, why are some growers pursuing use of
organic nutrient sources in hydroponics and recirculating culture? High market demand for
organically-certified produce in tandem with consumers’ willingness to pay and preferred
product taste are two reasons growers sometimes state.
Another compelling reason is that because organic fertilizers are typically lower in
NO3-N than inorganic fertilizers, nitrate content accumulated in leaves and petioles is often
lower. This result is routine in literature that compares organic to conventionally-produced
food crops (e.g., Worthington, 2001; Bourn and Prescott, 2002; Gorenjak et al., 2012). In the
fall trial with butterhead ‘Rex’ lettuce, leaf petiole nitrate levels were 600 to 1,100 mg L-1 in
Inorg treatments, but 35 to 200 mg L-1 in Org treatments as measured five times with a
CARDY meter (Horiba Ltd., Japan) over a six-week production cycle (Table 3). These results
are not surprising when the NO3-N concentration of the recirculating solution is compared
between the Org and Inorg treatments; in the former, the NO3-N concentration during the
‘high phase’ never exceeds 20 mg L-1, but it ranges between 70 and 275 mg L-1 in
recirculating solutions of the Inorg treatments.

Table 3. Fertilizer treatment effect on petiole nitrate (NO3-N) concentrations of butterhead

lettuce ‘Rex’ during the ‘high phase’ of the Fall 2012 experiment; n=3.
Day 351 Day 42 Day 49 Day 56 Day 63
Inorg 670±19.9 655±47.0 971±260 1114±52.7 865±217
Org 175±14.4 60±6.4 101±31.3 35±4.2 183±11.7
1Indicates day of production cycle.
While the nitrate levels were higher in the inorganically-fertilized crops, it is
important to note two caveats: first, the European Economic Commission allows up to
5,000 ppm nitrate in fresh leaf lettuce (EEC, 2011), so levels in neither organically- nor

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inorganically-fertilized crops were problematic. Secondly, the US’s National Organic Program
allows for 20% sodium nitrate in organic fertilizers, so some organic nutrient sources will
result in higher nitrate levels based on nitrogen form in the fertilizer source than those used
in the example provided.

CONCLUSIONS
It requires commitment for producers to grow plants with organic fertilizers in
hydroponic systems. Challenges include accomplishing the same amount of growth as with
inorganic fertilization, and pH, EC and nutrient supply management.
Organic nutrient sources may potentially support a thriving microbial community. This
comes with both management drawbacks and benefits. Drawbacks may include depletion of
oxygen levels in the recirculating solution, which can negatively influence plant health, and
growth of organisms that clog equipment. A benefit may include the ability of some
beneficial organisms to out-compete pathogens for resources, serving as a buffer against
some disease problems. Microbial responses in organic hydroponic systems require study.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The results presented in this manuscript are derived primarily from the thesis work of
Jason Nelson, completed in partial fulfilment of the requirements for his M.S. degree.
Contribution no. 15-216-A from the Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station.

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