Chapter 6

The Beneficial Elements

The number of elements presently considered essential for the proper nutrition
of higher plants stands at 16; the last element added to that list was Cl in
1954 (see Table 5.3 in Chapter 5). Some plant physiologists feel that the criteria
for essentiality established by Arnon and Stout (1939, see page 31) could
preclude the addition of other elements, as these 16 include most of the
elements found in substantial quantities in plants. However, there may be
other elements that have yet to be proven essential, as their requirements are
at such low levels that it will take considerably sophisticated analytical skills
to uncover them, or their ubiquitous presence will require special skills to
remove them from the rooting medium in order to create a deficiency. This
was the case for Cl, the last of the essential elements to be so defined. The
question is “what elements are likely to be added to the list of essentiality
and where is the best place to start?” To complicate matters, plant response
to some elements is species related — not all plants respond equally to a
particular element (Pallas and Jones, 1978).
It should be remembered that since the beginning of time, plants have
been growing in soils that contain all known elements. Those elements found
in the soil and in the soil solution in a soluble form or forms as an ion can
be taken into the plant by root absorption. This means that plants will contain
most if not all those elements found in soil. Markert (1994) defined what he
called the “Reference Plant Composition” of plants, which included 26 elements
that are not essential but are found in plants at easily detectable concentrations
(Table 6.1). Some of these elements would be classed as “trace elements,”
since they are found in the plant’s dry matter at low concentrations. This
designation, however, can lead to some confusion, since the term “trace
elements” was once used to identify what are defined today as the essential
micronutrients. Some of these elements exist at fairly high concentrations in
the plant depending on the level of their availability in soil. Kataba-Pendias
(2000) has given the approximate concentration of 18 nonessential elements

63

© 2005 by CRC Press

 64 Hydroponics: A Practical Guide for the Soilless Grower

Table 6.1 Trace Element Content of “Markert’s Reference Plant”a

Trace Element mg/kg Trace Element mg/kg

Antimony (Sb) 0.1 Iodine (I) 3.0

Arsenic (As) 0.1 Lead (Pb) 1.0
Barium (Ba) 40 Mercury (Hg) 0.1
Beryllium (Be) 0.001 Nickel (Hi) 1.5
Bismuth (Bi) 0.01 Selenium (Se) 0.02
Bromine (Br) 4.0 Silver (Ag) 0.2
Cadmium (Cd) 0.05 Strontium (Sr) 50
Cerium (Ce) 0.5 Thallium (Ti) 0.05
Cesium (Cs) 0.2 Tin (Sn) 0.2
Chromium (Cr) 1.5 Titanium (Ti) 5.0
Fluorine (F) 2.0 Tungsten (W) 0.2
Gallium (Ga) 0.1 Uranium (U) 0.01
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Gold (Au) 0.001 Vanadium (V) 0.5

a No data from typical accumulator and/or rejector plants.

Source: Markert, B., 1994, in D.C. Adriano, Z.S. Chen, and S.S. Yang (Eds.), Biochemistry
of Trace Elements, Science and Technology Letters, Northwood, New York.

found in plant leaf tissue, giving their range of sufficiency to toxicity to excess
(Table 6.2). The question is “which of the elements listed in Tables 6.1 and
6.2, irrespective of their found concentration in plants, would contribute,
positively or negatively, to plant growth?” A colleague and the author (Pallas
and Jones, 1978) found that platinum (Pt) at very low levels [0.057 mg/L
(ppm)] in a hydroponic nutrient solution stimulated plant growth for some
plant species but higher levels [0.57 mg/L (ppm)] reduced growth for all
species. The growth effects at the low level of Pt in solution varied considerably
among nine plant species (no response, radish and turnip; positive response,
snap bean, cauliflower, corn, peas, and tomato; negative response, broccoli
and pepper). It is the “stimulatory effect” of an element that needs to be
investigated for those elements available in soils and soilless media that could
be added to a hydroponic nutrient solution in order to benefit plant growth.
It was recognized by the early researchers that a “complete” nutrient
solution should include not only the essential elements known at that time
but also those that may be beneficial. Therefore, the A to Z micronutrient
solution was developed (see Table 7.14). Eight of the 20 elements included
in the A-Z micronutrient solution are considered essential and/or beneficial
for animals; these elements are:

Arsenic (As) Iodine (I)

Cobalt (Co) Nickel (Ni)
Chromium (Cr) Selenium (Se)
Fluorine (F) Vanadium (V)

Many feel that these eight elements recognized as essential/beneficial for

animals but not currently for plants (see Table 5.5) are good candidates for

© 2005 by CRC Press

 The Beneficial Elements 65

Table 6.2 Approximate Concentrations of Micronutrients and Trace

Elements in Mature Leaf Tissue
Concentration (mg/kg dry weight)
Micronutrient /Trace Sufficient or Toxic or
Element Deficient Normal Excessive

Antimony (Sb) — 7 to 50 150

Arsenic (As) — 1 to 1.7 5 to 20
Barium (Ba) — — 500
Beryllium (Be) — <1 to 7 10-50
Boron (B) 5 to 30 10 to 200 5 to 200
Cadmium (Cd) — 0.05 to 0.2 5 to 30
Chromium (Cr) — 0.1 to 0.5 5 to 30
Cobalt (Co) — 0.02 to 1 15 to 50
Copper (Cu) 2 to 5 5 to 30 2 to 100
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Fluorine (F) — 5 to 30 50 to 500

Lead (Pb) — 5 to 10 30 to 300
Lithium (Li) — 3 5 to 50
Manganese (Mn) 15 to 25 20 to 300 300 to 500
Molybdenum (Mo) 0.1 to 0.3 0.211 0 to 50
Nickel (Ni) — 0.1 to 5 10 to 100
Selenium (Se) — 0.001 to 2 5 to 30
Silver (Ag) — 0.5 5 to 10
Thallium (Tl) — — 20
Tin (Sn) — — 60
Titanium (Ti) 0.2 to 0.5 0.5 to 2.0 50 to 200
Vanadium (V) — 0.2 to 1.5 5 to 10
Zinc (Zn) 10 to 20 27 to 150 100 to 400
Zirconium (Zr) 0.2 to 0.5 0.5 to 2.0 15

Source: Kabata-Pendias, 2000 Trace Elements in Soils and Plants, 3rd ed., CRC Press, Boca
Raton, FL.

essentiality in plants. Those who may wish to explore the potential for
discovery of additional elements that may prove essential for both animals
and plants will find the books by Mertz (1981), and the articles by Asher
(1991), and Pais (1992), interesting.
Four elements, Co, Ni, Si, and V, have been studied as to their potential
essentiality for plants. Considerable research has been devoted to each of
these elements, and some investigators feel that they are important elements
for sustaining vigorous plant growth.

Cobalt (Co)
Cobalt is required indirectly by leguminous plants because this element is
essential for the Rhizobium bacteria that live symbiotically in the roots, fixing
atmospheric N2 and providing the host plant much of its needed N. Without

© 2005 by CRC Press

 66 Hydroponics: A Practical Guide for the Soilless Grower

Co, the Rhizobium bacteria are inactive and the legume plant then requires
an inorganic source of N as ions (such as NO3– and/or NH4+) in the soil
solution of a fertile soil. It is not clear whether the plant itself requires Co to
carry out specific biochemical processes. The irony of the relationship between
Rhizobium bacteria and leguminous plants is that in the absence of sufficient
inorganic N in the soil, which requires the plant to depend wholly on N2
fixed by the Rhizobium bacteria, the plant will appear to be deficient in N,
cease to grow, and eventually die if Co is not present.

Silicon (Si)
Plants that are soil grown can contain substantial quantities of Si, equal in
concentration (percent levels in the dry matter) to that of the major essential
elements. Most of the Si absorbed (plants can readily absorb silicic acid,
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H4SiO4) is deposited in the plants as amorphoous silica, SiO2.nH2O, or as

opals. Epstein (1994) has identified six roles of Si in plants, both physiological
and morphological. Reviewing 151 past nutrient solution formulations, Hewitt
(1966) found that only a few included the element Si. Epstein (1994) recom-
mends that Si as sodium silicate (Na2SiO3) be included in a Hoagland nutrient
solution formulation at 0.25 mM. Morgan (2000a) reported that hydroponic
trials conducted in New Zealand resulted in yield improvements for lettuce
and bean crops when the Si content in the nutrient solution was 140 ppm.
Recent studies with greenhouse-grown tomato and cucumber have shown that
without adequate Si, plants are less vigorous and unusually susceptible to
fungus disease attack (Belanger et al., 1995). Best growth is obtained when
the nutrient solution contains 100 mg/L (ppm) of silicic acid (H4SiO4). The
common reagent forms of Si added to a nutrient solution are either Na or K
silicate, which are soluble compounds, while silicic acid is only partially
soluble.
Silicon has been found to be required to maintain stalk strength in rice
and other small grains (Takahashi et al., 1990). In the absence of adequate
Si, these grain plants will not grow upright. Their tendency to lodge results
in significant grain loss in commercial production situations. The problem of
lodging has been observed primarily in paddy rice, where soil conditions may
affect Si availability and uptake.
There can be confusion about this element as frequently the element silicon
(Si) is improperly referred to as silica which is an insoluble compound, SiO2.

Nickel (Ni)
Nickel is considered an essential element for both legumes and small grains
(i.e., barley), as Brown et al. (1987) have shown that its deficiency meets the
requirements for essentiality established by Arnon and Stout (1939) (see page
31). Nickel is a component of the enzyme urease, and plants deficient in Ni
have high accumulations of urea in their leaves. Nickel-deficient plants are

© 2005 by CRC Press

 The Beneficial Elements 67

slow growing, and for barley, viable grain is not produced. It is recommended
that a nutrient solution contain a Ni concentration of at least 0.057 mg/L (ppm)
in order to satisfy the plant requirement for this element, although its require-
ment for other than grain crops has not been established. Nickel is also related
to seed viability; its deficiency in seed-bearing plants results in seeds that will
not germinate.

Vanadium (V)
Vanadium seems to be capable of substituting for Mo in the N metabolism of
plants, with no independent role clearly established for V. If Mo is at its
sufficiency level [its requirement is extremely low (see Table 5.1 and Table
5.2)] in the plant, V presence and availability are of no consequence.
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Element Substitution
There is considerable evidence that some nonessential elements can partially
substitute for an essential element, such as Na for K, Rb for K, Sr for Ca, and
V for Mo. These partial substitutions may be beneficial to plants in situations
where an essential element is at a marginally sufficient concentration. For
some plant species, this partial substitution may be highly beneficial to the
plant. Despite considerable speculation, it is not known exactly how and why
such substitutions take place, although similarity in elemental characteristics
(atomic size and valance) may be the primary factors.

New Beneficial Elements

Morgan (2000a) has identified what she calls “new” beneficial elements, those
other than Co, Si, Ni, and V:

Sodium (Na) Rubidium (Rb)

Strontium (Sr) Lithium (Li)
Aluminum (Al) Selenium (Se)
Iodine (I) Titanium (Ti)
Silver (Ag)

Of these elements, only Na and Ag are not included in the A-Z micronutrient
solution. The 12 elements identified by Morgan (2000a) as being beneficial
and their roles in plants are given in Table 6.3.

Summary
Growing evidence indicates that some elements not currently recognized as
essential for plants have beneficial effects. This increasing body of knowledge

© 2005 by CRC Press

 68 Hydroponics: A Practical Guide for the Soilless Grower

Table 6.3 The “New” Beneficial Elements and Their Roles

Element Role

Silicon (Si) Available as silicic acid (H4SiO4) which is slightly soluble; moves in
the plant in the transpiration stream in the xylem; important roles
in growth, mineral nutrition, mechanical support, resistance to
fungal diseases
Sodium (Na) Can be a replacement for K in some plants, such as spinach and
sugar beet; small quantities have increased tomato yields; an
element that can be beneficial at low concentrations and
detrimental at high concentrations
Cobalt (Co) Accelerates pollen germination, elevates the protein content of
legumes, contributes to the maximum occupation of the leaf
surface by chloroplasts and pigments, essential for the symbiotic
N2 fixation by legumes
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Vanadium (V) Complements and enhances the functioning of Mo, V and Mo

participate in the N2 fixation process, contributes to the initial
stages of seed germination
Lithium (Li) Some plants can accumulate Li to high concentrations; may affect
the transport of sugars from leaves to roots in sugar beets;
increases chlorophyll content of potato and pepper plants
Rubidium (Rb) May partially substitute for K, when P and NH4-N are high
concentration in the plant, may play a role in the sugar beet plant
by enhancing yield and sugar content
Strontium (Sr) May partially replace Ca when Ca requirement is high
Aluminum (Al) May be beneficial to plants that accumulate Al; traces found in
DNA and RNA
Selenium (Se) Stimulates growth for high-Se accumulator plants; can replace S
in S-amino acids in wheat
Iodine (I) Stimulates growth of plants in I-deficient soils; stimulates the
synthesis of cellulose and lignification of stem tissue; increases
concentration of ascorbic acid; seems to increase the salt
tolerance of plants by lowering Cl uptake
Titanium (Ti) May play a role in photosynthesis and N2 fixation; increases
chlorophyll content of tomato leaves; increases yield, fruit
ripening, and sugar content of fruit; may be essential for plants
but not found so because Ti is almost impossible to remove from
the environment
Silver (Ag) Induces production of male flowers on female plants, blocks the
production of ethylene; cut flower life can be enhanced by
pretreatment with Ag compounds

Source: Morgan, L., 2000a The Growing Edge 11(3):40–51.

should be sufficient to alert growers that the use of pure reagents and purified
water for making a nutrient solution may not be the best practice. The presence
of small quantities of elemental impurities may be desirable. Whether consid-
eration should be given to specifically include them in the nutrient solution
formula, including the use of the A to Z micronutrient solution (see Table
7.14 in Chapter 7), is questionable since the effort to include the right amount

© 2005 by CRC Press

 The Beneficial Elements 69

and the added cost for the reagents to be included in the nutrient solution
formulation may far exceed any derived benefit. There is also danger that a
particular element, if in excess, can adversely affect plant growth. These
situations present real problems for plant physiologists as well as growers
when using a nutrient solution as the only source of supply for elements,
whether essential or only considered beneficial. In a soil or soilless growing
medium, whether inorganic or organic, many of the elements existing naturally
in the environment will be found, precluding the necessity of adding them
in a supplemental nutrient solution. Hewitt (1966) did an extensive study on
what elements and concentrations thereof exist in sand, other growing media,
water from various sources, and reagents used to make a nutrient solution.
Although some of these data might not apply today, particularly for contam-
inant elements found in currently used reagents, Hewitt’s findings do point
out that elements exist in most of the items used in hydroponic equipment,
including water and reagents.
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Morgan (2000a) states, “We have a lot to discover about the role of many
elements present in plants. Most trace elements may never be considered
‘essential’ but they may prove, or have been proven, to be highly beneficial
certainly makes them worth consideration.”
Much of the interest in the so-called beneficial elements may be academic
as their presence in plants could be only consequential. It also may be that
their presence in plants may have no observed effect on plant growth unless
conditions exist that would make that element a limiting factor. There is also
the danger that their presence in plants may be detrimental and that they
therefore should be excluded from the rooting media and nutrient solution
rather than included. Hayden (2003) warns of the use of some organic
materials, such as sawdust, rice straw, and composted garbage, that can contain
substances that can harm plants, including organic substances, such as pesti-
cides and herbicides, as well as heavy metals. Heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Pb,
Hg) can also be present in inorganic fertilizers at levels that can harm plants.
The Association of American Plant Food Control Officials (AAP-FCO) has
developed and published recommended standards for “risk-based acceptable
concentrations” (RBCs) on their web site (http://www.aapfco.org).

Humic Acid
Humic compounds are defined as amorphous, colloidal polydispersed sub-
stances; they are yellow to brown-black in color. They are hydrophilic, acidic,
and high in molecular weight, ranging from several hundreds to thousands
of atomic units. They are complex substances whose physical and chemical
properties reflect their source and method of extraction (Tan, 1998).
Humic acid and its potential role in plant nutrition have gained considerable
interest in recent years. Generally, humic acid is extracted from soil organic
matter or peat; it is a material with interesting physiochemical properties that
have been found to enhance plant growth (Tan, 1993). The addition of humic
acid to the nutrient solution has been proposed, but its benefits have yet to

© 2005 by CRC Press

 70 Hydroponics: A Practical Guide for the Soilless Grower

be thoroughly evaluated. It is believed that humic acid would chelate some

elements in the nutrient solution, thereby providing some control in elemental
uptake and utilization.
Humates have been studied for sometime regarding their influence on plant
growth and the chemistry of the plant-rooting medium complex. Recently,
Vasilenko (2002) suggested that the humates and humic and fulvic acids can
have positive effects on plant growth.
The author added humic acid to a nutrient solution formulation in a
greenhouse tomato experiment and found that no significant benefit was
obtained, either in terms of increased plant growth or fruit yield. Initially,
there was a slight negative response when fruiting tomato plants wilted when
first receiving the humic acid-included nutrient solution. These results suggest
that humic acid needs to be included from the very beginning, from the
seedling stage through final harvest. In another experiment, I found that
including humic acid in a nutrient solution for hydroponic lettuce production
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from the seedling stage to harvest gave no significant positive or negative

response.
One of the major problems associated with the humates and their related
substances is that the source (whether derived from soil or some type of
organic material) and the method of extraction and purification can have
significant effects on the composition and activity of the humate product
obtained (Tan, 1998). Therefore, any response (positive or negative) from the
use of a humate product could be due to its derivation and method of
extraction and preparation.
It is the author’s opinion that humic acid and related substances should
not be included in a nutrient solution formulation. There is a danger of a
greater negative than positive effect.

© 2005 by CRC Press