Investigation of yield, yield components and nutrient contents of wild rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia (L.) DC.)

Abstract

Wild rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia (L.) DC.), a member of the Brassicaceae family, is vital in natural areas and soil protections as well as in human and animal nutrition. The study was conducted to determine the appropriate row spacing of Turkey’s native plant wild rocket in Konya conditions. This study was conducted in 2015; observations and measurements were carried out in the second (i.e., 2016) and third (i.e., 2017) years. In this study, fodder yield and its components consisted of plant height, canopy diameter, number of branches, fresh and dry fodder yield per plant, and dry fodder yield per hectare and seed yield and its components consisted of number of pods per branch, number of pods per plant, 1000 grains weight, seed yield per plant, and seed yield per hectare were examined. Macro and micronutrient contents of the plant were also analyzed in 2016. The results show that seed yield values such as seed yield (i.e., 76.2 kg ha−1) and 1000 grains weight (i.e., 1.00 g) were higher in 2016. However, in 2017, while seed yield was lower, plant height (i.e., 92.78 cm), canopy diameter (i.e., 85.67 cm), and fodder yield (i.e., 20339.5 kg ha−1) were higher. In nutrient contents (especially Ca, K, and Fe), 20- and 30-cm row spacings were determined as significant. Furthermore, the yield values related to dry fodder and seed yields are higher with 20- and 30-cm row spacings. This study indicated that 20- and 30-cm row spacings are recommended row spacing for wild rocket culture.