Effects of nutrient levels on growth and quality of radish(Raphanus sativusL.) grown on different substrates

Abstract

Abstract Radish grown in sand or granulated rockwool was irrigated with nutrient solutions of different concentrations. The EC value in the root environment aimed at ranged between 1.0 and 6.0 dS/m at 25°C. Four crops were grown, three crops in the spring‐summer season and one crop in winter. For the spring‐summer grown radish highest plant weights were obtained with EC values in the root environment of about 2 dS/m. In the winter grown crop an EC value between 2 and 4 gave highest plant weights. With too low EC values the yield reduction was more serious in winter than in spring‐summer. High EC values reduced yield especially in the spring‐summer season. In winter, the number of blind plants was strongly affected by the EC value. The bulb/leaf ratio was higher on sand than on rockwool and increased with EC value. Sponginess appeared in the spring‐summer crops and was reduced by increasing EC values. The mineral absorption of the radish was equal for the different crops. The water absorption, however, dif...