About Antonius Lecuona

I studied agriculture at the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa in 1984 and completing my M.Sc Agric. in 1998. . My love for "Controlled Environmental Agriculture" (CEA), started in my third year when I was exposed to the Welgevallen Research Station. There Prof. P.C.Maree showed us what hydroponics consisted of. It was awesome. There were no large tractors involved, no dusty fields, no uncontrollable storms to destroy your crop (well that is what I thought). Since then I put hydroponics to much better use, not just farming. We solved pollution problems by cleaning mines effluent with hydroponics and aquaculture. They were used to remove toxic metals to produce clean water (which we sold and make more money of than the produce). What I learned from 1987 I tried to compile in this website and I hope it is from some value to the serious commercial farmer that wants to take the journey into Commercial Hydroponic Farming.

Calcium (Ca) – It’s role in plant growth

2020-02-14T15:16:30+02:00By |Macro nutrients, Nutrients|

On average, more growers have calcium (Ca) related problems than any other nutrient. These problems occur in areas of low humidity and high temperatures. Calcium forms part of cell walls and any deficiency is marked by the breakdown of cell tissue leading to some form of internal “browning”. The average [...]

Nitrogen – It’s role in plant growth

2014-07-21T14:33:03+02:00By |Macro nutrients, Nutrients|

Nitrogen is consumed in large amounts by the plant. Nitrogen is used in components such as amino acids all proteins enzymes co enzymes nucleic acids and chlorophyll. Dry weight analysis of plant material shows that on average nitrogen makes up about 6% of the dry weight. Nitrogen is taken up [...]

How to adjust the pH in hydroponic nutrient solutions

2017-02-09T17:11:30+02:00By |Nutrients, pH|

Adjusting ph of the water supply is crucial for maximum nutrient availability.  It is seldom that the water supply, even from a well, is perfectly suitable (pH 5.8-6.8). The pH always needs some adjustment, either up or down. How to decrease the pH of a nutrient solution Lowering [...]

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