Influence of Different Substrate on Nutrients in Lettuce

Abstract

The need for fast nitrogen releasing organic fertilizer, being allowable and economically accessible for organic farming is high. So authors have studied the growth of lettuce plants on different substrates (rock-wool, sheep wool and soil) and its influence on mineral content of lettuce plants grown in hydroponic system. Regardless the fact that there were significant differences in the plant growth- seedlings in sheep wool grew faster, there were no significant difference in fresh weight at harvest, but faster growing plant had heavier dry weight of roots. Mineral contents didn’t show important consequences, although we would expect it at least for potassium. So we cannot conclude sheep wool is more efficient substrate than rock wool or soil, but considering the fact that plants grew faster in it with similar nutrients content, it still seems like an optimal choice.