Abstract
T HE MINERAL NUTRITION OF PLANTS is as essential to autotrophic life as is photosynthesis. However, effective experiments in the mineral nutrition of plants are not common in the biology laboratory. There is a well-known mnemonic for the nutrient elements essential to plants (See Hopkins' cafe? Mighty good. Mob comes in.) -yet how many students have themselves arranged for the appearance of potassium deficiency in a living plant? One of the simplest and most effective methods for such a demonstration is the growth of plants in solution cultures. In order to increase the use of this technique, I describe here an apparatus that is easily fabricated from readily available materials. The basic method for growing plants in solution cultures has changed little since it was first demonstrated, in 1860, by the German botanist Julius von Sachs. The basic requirements are (i) an inert container to hold the nutrient solution, (ii) a lid to support the plant upright and to exclude dust contaminations, (iii) maintaining the roots in darkness, and (iv) providing the roots with sufficient aeration. When all essential mineral nutrients are maintained at suitable levels in the culture solution, plants will grow in such solutions just as well as in the most fertile soil, given equally favorable light and temperature conditions.
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