Abstract
Organic fresh products are appreciated and are gaining a good reputation regarding human health and environmental concerns. Despite the fact that hydroponics are commonly used in vegetable production, growers are looking for sustainable cultivation systems. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the effect of using an organic-based nutrient solution (NS) derived from fish waste in a hydroponic system on the vegetative growth and production of lettuce compared to a conventional inorganic NS. Plant growth, yield, physiological and nutrient content parameters were determined. The results revealed that the overall growth and fresh biomass of the organic NS grown lettuce were relatively lower than those of the inorganic NS. Stomata density was significantly higher in inorganic grown lettuce compared to the organic one. However, the total chlorophyll, carotene, phenolic compounds, and flavonoid contents, as well as antioxidant activity were significantly higher in lettuce grown in organic NS compared to the inorganic one. Leaf nutrient content at harvest was significantly impacted by the type of used fertilizer. Based on these findings, in hydroponic system, organic liquid fertilizer derived from fish waste (as an alternative NS source) requires further improvements to achieve optimal growth and yield comparable to that of conventional inorganic NS.
Highlights
Published: 6 September 2021Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is a member of the Asteraceae family and is widely recognized as one of the most important leafy vegetable crops in terms of crop value [1]
This suggests that the source of nutrients in the those organic lettuce plants grown in organic nutrient solution (NS) had a significantly higher number of leaves than solution somehow caused the differences observed
The present study revealed that lettuce plants grown with organic NS derived from fish waste had lower plant height, leaf number and area, fresh biomass, and stomatal density compared to inorganically grown plants, while the total chlorophyll, chlorophyll a, carotene, phenolic compounds, and flavonoid content as well as antioxidant activity were higher in plants grown in the organic solution compared to the inorganic ones, reflecting the nutritive value of the former
Summary
Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is a member of the Asteraceae family and is widely recognized as one of the most important leafy vegetable crops in terms of crop value [1]. It is a delicious vegetable consumed all over the world due to its crispness, pleasant aroma, and high levels of phytonutrients, such as phenolic components and vitamins (C, K and folate) [2,3]. Several reports have revealed that lettuce has a high yield and good quality when grown in a soilless system [4,5]. The number of farmers who want to adapt strategies that respect the environment, preserve valuable resources like water, provide healthy and safe products, and use sustainable and efficient agricultural practices is increasing [6]
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