Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) growth, yield and quality response to nitrogen fertilization in a non-circulating hydroponic system Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • 2016 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of nitrogen fertilization rate on growth and quality of leafy lettuce grown during the winter season in non-circulating hydroponic system. Plants were subjected to seven nitrogen (N) concentrations, i.e. 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180mg L1 N using ammonium nitrate. Nitrogen treatments did not have a significant effect on leaf fresh and dry mass, root fresh and dry mass, number leaves and leaf area. Leaf ascorbic acid and total phenolic content, and antioxidant capacity peaked at 100 and 120mg L1 N, whereas leaf chlorophyll concentration linearly increased with increasing N application. The results indicate that a solution N concentration of 100 and 120mg L1 may be sufficient to improve growth, yield and quality parameters of leafy lettuce grown in non-circulating hydroponic system.

published proceedings

  • JOURNAL OF PLANT NUTRITION

altmetric score

  • 3

author list (cited authors)

  • Mahlangu, R., Maboko, M. M., Sivakumar, D., Soundy, P., & Jifon, J.

citation count

  • 37

publication date

  • October 2016