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Water-based
extractions of soilless root media are simply methods to solubilize
nutrients in the root medium so that their concentrations can
be measured as an estimate of nutrient availability for uptake
by the plant. Water-based extraction procedures include saturated
medium extractions (SME), 1:2 medium dilutions, pour-thru extractions,
and (for plugs) a squeeze method. Analyses can be run on the
extracted solution, including NH4-N,
NO3-N, PO4-P, K, Ca, Mg, and other nutrient
ions, as well as pH and EC.
Maria collects root medium samples
from several pots that contain plants showing the symptomology
and combines these into one sample, and does the same for plants
that appear healthy. She then sends the samples to Scott's Testing
Lab in Allentown, Pennsylvania, where an SME is completed and
analyzed for most macro- and micronutrients |
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