Green Fodder Production and Water Use Efficiency of Some Forage Crops under Hydroponic Conditions

Ghazi N Al-Karaki,M Al-Hashimi

doi:10.5402/2012/924672

Ghazi N Al-Karaki, M Al-Hashimi

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5402/2012/924672

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Abstract

The objectives of this study were to evaluate five forage crops (alfalfa (Medicago sativa), barley (Hordeum vulgare), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), and wheat (Triticum aestivum)) for green fodder production and water use efficiency under hydroponic conditions. The experiment has been conducted under temperature-controlled conditions (24 ± 1°C) and natural window illumination at growth room of Soilless Culture Laboratory, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain. The results showed that green forage can be produced in 8 days from planting to harvest using hydroponic technique. Highest values for green fresh yields were recorded for the crops cowpea, barley, and alfalfa which gave 217, 200, and 194 tons/ha, respectively. However, only cowpea and barley crops gave the highest green dry yield, but not alfalfa. Barely crop used water more efficiently than the other four tested crops when produced about 654 kg fresh matter/m3 water in comparison to 633, 585, 552, and 521 kg fresh matter/m3 water for cowpea, sorghum, wheat, and alfalfa, respectively. No significant differences between barley and cowpea for water use efficiency were noted. It can be concluded from this study that barley crop can be considered the best choice for production of hydroponic green fodder with less water consumption.

Highlights

Reducing agricultural water use while maintaining or improving economic productivity of the agricultural sector is a major challenge in arid and semiarid regions
Irrigated agriculture is the major consumer of fresh water supplies in many parts of the world, in relatively arid and semiarid regions like Jordan as well as Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries
Results of this study showed that the green fodder with lush vegetation can be produced in 8 days from planting to harvest using hydroponic technique especially for cowpea and barley crops (Figure 3)

Summary

Introduction

Reducing agricultural water use while maintaining or improving economic productivity of the agricultural sector is a major challenge in arid and semiarid regions. Irrigated agriculture is the major consumer of fresh water supplies in many parts of the world, in relatively arid and semiarid regions like Jordan as well as Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Scarcity of adequate fresh water supplies might pose challenges for sustainability of the field projects especially with utilizing ground water for irrigation, which is consumed in large amounts as these countries are characterized with very high rates of evapotranspiration and soils of low capacity to retain water. Methods and technologies that can contribute to improved water use efficiency and productivity merit closer consideration like hydroponic technique

Objectives

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Results