Abstract
In this study, we investigated the effect of individual and combined applications of manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) chelates on common bean grown in hydroponics (nutrient film technique—NFT) on physiological and agronomical responses. Inorganic sulphate forms of Mn and Zn were compared to their synthetic chelate forms, in the replenishment nutrient solution (RNS). Nutrient (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu) to water uptake ratios (termed uptake concentrations; UCs), growth, pods yield and quality, photosynthetic parameters and tissue nutrient status were evaluated in different cropping seasons (spring-summer and autumn-winter crops). Mean UCs of nutrients ranged as follows: 10.1–12.4 (N), 0.8–1.0 (P), 5.2–5.6 (K), 1.8–2.2 (Ca), 0.9–1.0 (Mg) mmol L−1; 12.2–13.4 (Fe), 5.2–5.6 (Mn), 4.4–4.9 (Zn), 0.9–1.0 (Cu) μmol L−1. Tissue macronutrient status remained unaffected in both seasons, however, Mn chelates in the RNS affected Fe within plants. Pod yield and quality, growth, photosynthesis and water uptake did not differ among treatments; however, seasonal variations are presented. Results suggest that the chelate forms of Mn and/or Zn in the refill solution for NFT-grown beans do not lead to any changes, adding superiority in the yield, photosynthesis, and nutritional status of the crops compared to their mineral forms.
Highlights
Perhaps the most important components for economic success in the greenhouse industry are successfully addressing the water and nutrient needs of the crop
uptake concentrations (UCs) obtained during the vegetative stage were higher than at the harvesting period for most of macro-and micronutrients, irrespective of the growing season (Table 2)
nutrient solutions (NS), and * indicate nonsignificant or significant differences at at the 0.05 probability level. It appears that a balanced supply of nutrients and continuously controlled pH in the nutrientfilm filmtechnique technique (NFT) flowing nutrient solution ensured high pod yield of good quality and the high availability of nutrients in all NS treatments studied, resulting in negligible impacts on plants among chelated and unchelated supply forms of Mn and Zn
Summary
Perhaps the most important components for economic success in the greenhouse industry are successfully addressing the water and nutrient needs of the crop. In the modern greenhouse industry, sustainable production mainly relies on hydroponic systems with the reuse of drainage water, since a close control in the supply of water and nutrients is impossible in soil-grown crops [1,2]. In such systems, the constitution and use of nutrient solution is a subject of permanent attention [3]. To prepare NS containing all the essential nutrients, highly soluble inorganic salts are used to provide most of them (e.g., CaNO3 × 4H2 O, KNO3 , KH2 PO4, MgSO4 × 7H2 O)
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