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Plant Science Today (PST)

Review Articles

Early Access

Precision nutrient delivery and ion homeostasis in hydroponic systems: Implications for crop productivity

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.14834
Submitted
3 April 2026
Published
23-09-2026
Versions

Abstract

Hydroponic farming has become an influential method of sustainable production of crops due to the reduction in arable land, shortage of freshwater and climatic changes. The performance of these systems is determined by the accuracy of nutrient delivery and the ion homeostasis in the root zone, which directly control nutrient uptake, plant metabolism and productivity. Competitive ionic interactions, especially among major cations (K+ vs Ca2+ and Mg2+) and anions (NO3- vs SO42 - and PO43- ) and precipitation of micronutrients under high calcium (Ca) or phosphorus (P) levels tend to cause hidden deficiencies, ionic imbalances, unstable pH and electrical conductivity (EC) and result in production losses of 10–20 %. Conversely, positive nutrient interactions with balanced nitrogen-potassium (N-K) and nitrogen-sulphur (N-S) nutritional status, silicon supplementation, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and co-cultivation with algae or legumes have significant positive effects on nutrient absorption, photosynthetic capacity, water use efficiency (WUE) (up to 38 %) and nutrient use efficiency (NUE) (15–42 %). This review examines the underlying mechanisms of these nutrient interactions, their impacts on crop performance and some supporting evidence available in recent studies. It also discusses high-tech methods for precision nutrient control, including optimised ionic ratios (K: Ca: Mg), real-time multi-ion sensors, artificial intelligence (AI)-based corrections, chelated micronutrients, nano-fertilisers, biofertilisers and the integration of hybrid biological systems such as aquaponics. These tools are vital to regulate the homeostasis of ions effectively, reduce the loss of physiological disorders and nutrients and achieve maximum sustainable productivity and quality in hydroponic systems.

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