Effect of nitrate and ammonium ratios on physiological and quality attributes of hydroponically grown leafy vegetables
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Date
2019
Authors
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Publisher
Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
Abstract
The effect of variable NO3
-to NH4
+ ratios in the nutrient solution was evaluated on growth,
nutritional quality and yield attributes of hydroponically grown leafy vegetables. Spinach (cv.
Punjab Green), Coriander (cv. Punjab Sugandh) and Lettuce (cv. Iceberg) grown under
substrate hydroponics with intermittent supply of water and nutrients. Simultaneously crop
was raised in open field by conventional practices. Crop was sown on three dates viz.,
October (main season) and February and July (off-season) respectively. N was supplied in
variable ratios of NO3
- to NH4
+ viz., 100:0 (T1), 75:25 (T2), 50:50 (T3), 25:75 (T4), 0:100
(T5) respectively, keeping total N content constant. Fresh foliage was harvested 3 times in
each season from each respective treatment at 30 days interval starting from date of sowing.
At each harvesting, growth (fresh and dry biomass of shoot and root, plant height, leaf area
and total yield per plant), quality parameters (total chlorophyll, carotenoids, soluble sugars,
starch, soluble proteins, free amino acids and proline) and antioxidant enzyme activities
(SOD, CAT, and POD) were determined. During all the three seasons, the yield was
significantly more in hydroponically than open field sown crop. Under substrate hydroponics,
maximum yield was obtained in the plants provided with nutrient solution T2 (NO3
- : NH4
+::
75:25) and also had higher values of quality parameters and highest antioxidants activities
than the open field crop. It is suggested that NO3
- to NH4
+ ratio of 75:25 improve the growth,
antioxidants activity, quality attributes and is thus most suitable for leafy vegetables growth
under substrate hydroponics.
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