Using deep water culture as one of the important hydroponic systems for saving water, mineral fertilizers and improving the productivity of lettuce crop

Abstract

Two experiments was carried out during for two successive seasons of 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 2021at the research farm of National Research Center (NRC) at Nubaryia Region, Al Buhayrah Governorate, Egypt., to Study of the performance of the deep water culture as one of the most important hydroponic systems in comparison with drip irrigation systems in open fields and under greenhouses on productivity, water productivity, fertilization productivity and some quality characteristics of lettuce. The experiment was arranged in a complete randomized block design with three replicates for each cultivar [two cultivars, CHE: CHEROKEE RZ (81-36) and AFI: AFICION RZ (81-82)] in each farming system [three farming systems, (Deep Water Culture (DWC) as hydroponic system, Drip Irrigation in Greenhouse (DIGH) with sandy soils, Drip Irrigation in Open Field (DIOF) with sandy soils)]. The study concluded that, by using the DWC, the vegetative growth characteristics were improved, productivity and water productivity increased, and the quality of the lettuce crop been improved.