Calculation Tools

The OptimIA project prioritizes making indoor farm educational and learning materials accessible for all. These controlled environment agriculture (CEA) industry leaders have developed free learning tools that are available for growers to reference when determining their optimal growing conditions.

Please explore their calculation tools and websites below.

AlkCalc Click here to be taken to AlkCalc

This calculator provides the recommendations for the amount of acid to add to irrigation water in order to modify the pH and alkalinity levels. In addition, the calculator provides the amount of added phosphorus, nitrogen, and sulfur that the corresponding acids will provide, plus an economic comparison of each acid.

Convert between NPK and N-P2O5-K2O Click here to be taken to Convert between NPK and N-P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub>-K<sub>2</sub>O

This tool converts the fertilizer label between units of nitrogen-phosphate-potash (N-P2O5-K2O) and elemental nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (NPK).

Daily Light Integral Click here to be taken to Daily Light Integral

This tool calculates the light intensity and photoperiod required to achieve a certain daily light integral, for an electric light source such as indoor LED (light-emitting diode) lighting. 

This web tool is intended for use only as a guide, and is intended for growers managing a constant electric light source either in a greenhouse (as a supplement for sunlight) or indoors under sole-source electric lighting without sunlight.

Fert-Calc Click here to be taken to Fert-Calc

FERTCALC is an on-line spreadsheet capable of calculating fertilizer formulations for water soluble fertilizer. It calculates values for up to four injectors, but can only calculate one fertilizer per stock tank.

When two or more different fertilizers are being mixed into one stock tank (ex. potassium nitrate with calcium nitrate), enter each fertilizer individually using the multiple stock tank options.

Fertilizer recipe to ppm Click here to be taken to Fertilizer recipe to ppm

This tool calculates the concentration of active ingredient in a solution, for example, a liquid fertilizer or plant growth regulator.

How many light fixures do you need? Click here to be taken to How many light fixures do you need?

This tool determines how many lighting fixtures you need for supplemental lighting in your greenhouse with this calculator. 

To use the lighting fixtures calculator you will need to download the linked file and open it in Excel.

LAMP Lighting Cost Calculator Click here to be taken to LAMP Lighting Cost Calculator

This tool estimates supplemental lighting costs in your greenhouse with this calculator.

Lighting Radiation Conversion Click here to be taken to Lighting Radiation Conversion

This calculator converts between different lighting units and lamp types, using data from the Plant Growth Chamber Handbook, 1997. 

Nitrogen form effect on pH Click here to be taken to Nitrogen form effect on pH

This tool is designed to help growers select a fertilizer that will result in a stable pH in their substrate (growing media) over time. 

ppm to fertilizer recipe Click here to be taken to ppm to fertilizer recipe

This tool calculates how much liquid or solid fertilizer or agrichemical to add into a solution to achieve a target concentration in ppm (which is the same as parts per million, or milligrams per liter).

Production week number Click here to be taken to Production week number

The production week number is widely used for scheduling horticultural crops, rather than calendar date.

Substrate cost and volume Click here to be taken to Substrate cost and volume

This tool calculates the volume and cost of soil required to fill greenhouse and nursery containers.

VPD calculator Click here to be taken to VPD calculator

This tool provides computations of saturation vapor pressure, vapor pressure, vapor pressure deficit of ai and humidity deficit of air under 101.3 kPa atmospheric pressure. 

Waterborne Solutions Click here to be taken to Waterborne Solutions

This tool summarizes published research that tests control of plant pathogens and algae using water treatment technologies.

WaterQual: Interpret irrigation water test Click here to be taken to WaterQual: Interpret irrigation water test

This web tool is intended for use only as a crop management guide for water sources used in nursery and greenhouse irrigation.