Total mineralization (solids content or total salt content) Is an indicator of the amount of dissolved substances in water. Abroad, mineralization is also called “the total amount of dissolved particles” – Total Dissolved Solids (TDS).
Common inorganic salts make the greatest contribution to the total mineralization of the nutrient solution. (bicarbonates, chlorides, sulfates, nitrates, phosphates, etc.)as well as a small amount of organic matter. Dissolved gases are not included in the calculation of the total salinity.
To measure the total mineralization of nutrient solutions, a TDS meter is used.
Units
Usually, mineralization is calculated in milligrams per liter (mg / l), but given that the unit of measurement “liter»Is not systemic, it is more correct to express mineralization in mg / dm3, at high concentrations – in grams per liter (g / l, g / dm3). Also, very often, the level of mineralization can be expressed in ppm – parts per million (ppm)… The ratio between the units of measurement in mg / l and ppm is practically equal, and for simplicity it can be assumed that 1 mg / l = 1 ppm.
