Performance of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) under hydroponic culture using formulated organic nutrients (FON)
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Abstract
The incorporation of organic solutions is gaining attention due to their ability to promote plant growth and support more sustainable agricultural practices. In this study, the different nutrient solutions used affected the growth and yield of lettuce. Lettuce grown on SNAP solution (T1) had the tallest plants, longest roots, the greatest number of leaves produced, the widest and longest leaves, and the heaviest overall yield. However, this was found insignificant compared to the plants grown on the formulated organic nutrient solution, FON with chicken dung and molasses (T2). Notably, T2 had similar responses to T4 (FON with chicken dung and without molasses) and T3 (FON with cow manure and without molasses) in terms of plant height, number of leaves produced, width of leaves, length of roots, biomass, and non-marketable part. Conversely, lettuce grown on T5 (FON with hog manure and without molasses) exhibited the least number of leaves produced, narrowest leaves, shortest root length, and lightest overall yield, similar to T3 and T4 solutions. Among the nutrient solutions used, T2 generated the highest net profit, followed by T3, T1, and T5, while T4 had the lowest net income. It indicated that T2 could be a viable alternative to conventional synthetic solutions for hydroponic lettuce production as it performs similarly under favorable conditions. Additionally, varying nutrient solutions had a noticeable impact on both the percentage of light absorption and the weight of the sediment in the solution. Lighter solutions, such as T1 (colorless), T5 (baby yellow), and T2 (gold ochre), exhibited higher percentages of light absorption. In contrast, the darker solutions, including T3 (chocolate and chrome orange) and T4 (brown and red wood), were found to absorb significantly less light. Overall, these findings underscored the potential of organic nutrient solutions in enhancing lettuce growth and profitability.
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