Productivity and profitability of different crops under the fertigated hydroponic condition

Abstract

Fodder production competition increased due to ever-increasing human pressure on land for the production of food crops and hydroponic fodder production could be the one option to commit the problem. Five crops (maize, oats, cowpea, lablab, and common bean) seeds with and without fertigation evaluated for fodder yield laid out in a completely randomized design with three replications at Arba Minch Agricultural Research Center during May-August 2019. Shoot length, seed sprouting ability, and duration, green fodder yield were measured. Cereal grains took longer days to be sprouted than pulses. Pulses especially common beans weighed others in the experiment. All crops in the experiment were found to be suitable for hydroponic fodder production. Partial budget analysis showed that hydroponic fodder production could benefit by 30.8% more than grain production. Hydroponic fodder production could be the option for city agriculture, especially in the smallholder poultry business for young entrepreneurs, less land holding farmers, elders and women, and even other interested groups in urban agriculture. Thus, it is ideal for small business groups and the nutritional aspect may be considered by animal nutritionists further.