Understanding Front Row Ag Feed Charts

Front Row Ag Feed Charts provide precise nutrient management protocols for controlled environment agriculture. This technical guide covers stock concentrate methods (3-2-2) and direct-to-reservoir (DTR) approaches, along with phase-specific recipes designed to optimize plant performance throughout the growth cycle.

Quick Start Guide

1. Choose Your Mixing Method:
   • Stock Concentrate: For consistent, large-scale operations
   • Direct to Reservoir: For smaller operations or specialized requirements
2. Select Strength Level:
   • Standard Strength: General purpose
   • High Strength: Intensive cultivation environments, highly controlled facilities
3. Determine Recipe Strategy:
   • Stack Recipe: Simplified management, consistent results
   • Phase-Specific: Optimized for particular growth stages or cultivar types (short/tall size and early/late flowering)

Understanding Component Relationships

Key Points:

• Components work synergistically
• Ratios adjust to match growth phases
• Enables precise crop steering

Front Row Ag's three-part system creates a complete, balanced nutrient profile through the interaction of:

• Part A: Drives vegetative growth and provides essential micronutrients
• Part B: Supports structural development and energy systems
• Bloom: Enhances reproductive growth and secondary metabolism

The ratio between these components can be adjusted to:

• Influence growth patterns
• Support specific developmental phases
• Enable precise crop steering
• Optimize plant responses

Feed Chart Fundamentals

Key Points:

• EC requirements vary with cultivation factors
• Standard and High Strength options available
• Component ratios drive plant responses

Strength Selection Factors

Stock Concentrate Methods

Key Points:

• 3-2-2 is standard for most facilities. Reach out to your sales rep if you require more concentrated stock solution or specfic injection ranges.
• Stock concentrates aren’t just for injection - they’re also the best choice for time savings, accuracy, and consistency for facilities that mix batch tanks by hand.
• Use only RO water at ~71°F
• Validate EC after mixing
• Store for up to 2-4 weeks

Stock Concentrate Methods

Critical Mixing Parameters

For both methods, precise measurement and proper mixing procedures are essential:

• Use only RO water at ~71°F
• Fill tanks to 50% of target volume before adding fertilizer
• Maintain continuous agitation during mixing
• Mix for 5 minutes while adding fertilizer
• Continue mixing for 10 minutes after reaching final volume

Validation Process

Stock concentrates must be validated before use to ensure proper mixing:

• For most accurate results, mix 250ml of stock concentrate into 5 gallons of RO water
• Check EC against validation values for your chosen method
• Higher validation values for 4-3-3 reflect the increased concentration of stock solutions

Direct to Reservoir (DTR)

Key Points:

• Requires precise measurement
• Follow mixing sequence exactly
• Use within specified timeframes
• Monitor solution stability

Mixing Process

Proper mixing sequence is critical for DTR applications:

1. Fill reservoir to target volume and begin agitation
2. Add Front Row Si (if using)
3. Add Part A and agitate for 3-5 minutes
4. Add Part B and agitate for 3-5 minutes
5. Add Bloom and agitate for 3-5 minutes
6. Adjust pH using pH Up in 0.05 g/gal increments until reaching target pH (typically 5.8-6.0). Wait 15 minutes after mixing to validate.
7. Validate final EC and pH

Solution Storage Guidelines

Water Quality and Sanitization

• Use only RO water for mixing
• Avoid using hydrogen peroxide or other strong oxidizers, as these can degrade micronutrients
• For sterile reservoir management, calcium hypochlorite at 1-3g/100 gallons is recommended

Feed Recipes and Phases

Key Points:

• Stack recipe suitable for most applications
• Phase-specific recipes optimize growth responses as part of a crop steering strategy
• EC typically decreases through flower cycle
• Recipes support crop steering goals, providing vegetative and generative cues at strategic times

Growth Phase Characteristics

EC Progression Through Growth Cycle

Feed EC typically starts higher in early growth stages and gradually decreases through the cycle. This pattern aligns with natural plant demands:

• Early stages (veg and first three weeks of flower) have highest nutritional requirements due to rapid growth and smaller root mass
• As plants complete stretch phase, mineral requirements naturally decrease
• Later stages benefit from reduced EC and/or increased runoff to manage substrate EC

Additives

Key Points:

• Each additive serves specific functions
• Follow usage rates carefully
• Consider compatibility with growth phase
• Monitor plant responses

Front Row Si

Front Row Si provides highly available monosilicic acid (MSA), the only form of silicon directly absorbable by plants. Key features include:

• Delivers 13ppm of soluble silica at recommended rates
• 10x more concentrated than conventional silicate products
• No additional potassium contribution
• pH neutral formulation
• Contributes to:
  • Mechanical strengthening of plant tissues
  • Enhanced stress tolerance
  • Improved disease resistance
  • Better nutrient absorption

Phoszyme

Phossyme is a specialized enzyme product containing mannanase and phosphatase that enhances nutrient availability and uptake. The best way to use Phoszyme with the 3-2-2 stock method is to mix it in the Part B stock solution at 54 g/gal (6lbs per 50 gal). Note that this will increase the stock validation EC to 1.69 EC.

Benefits include:

• Improved water and nutrient absorption
• Enhanced fertilizer efficiency
• Increased microbial activity in the rootzone
• Better stress and drought tolerance
• Enhanced production of secondary metabolites

The dual-enzyme formulation works through:

• Mannanase: Breaks down root zone starches to improve water and nutrient flow
• Phosphatase: Catalyzes phosphorus conversion for better availability

Triologic

Triologic is a microbial root inoculant designed to enhance plant growth through mycorrhizal colonization. This concentrated formulation contains specialized rhizobacteria that:

• Fix nitrogen and cycle essential nutrients
• Facilitate nutrient uptake
• Enhance fertility
• Improve plant resistance to pests and diseases
• Support mycorrhizae formation and beneficial fungal colonies

Application:

• Recommended rate: 1 ml/Gal (0.26 ml/L), once per week
• Best applied as a hand water drench
• Most effective when applied early in plant development

BioFlo

BioFlo is a biological cleaning solution designed specifically for irrigation systems. This enzyme-based formulation:

• Clears biofilm and salt buildup from irrigation lines
• Restores irrigation systems to full capacity
• Safe for plants, soil, and beneficial microorganisms
• Compatible with all injection and tank systems
• Effective for both prevention and treatment of clogs

Key Benefits:

• Natural bio-enzyme action
• No harmful chemicals
• Safe for use throughout the growing cycle
• Effective against existing clogs and preventative for future buildup
• Maintains clean, efficient irrigation systems