Effect of different salinity levels on rocket production in a floating system

This study aimed to determine the effects of different salinity levels on rocket which have a short production period and accepted as baby leaf vegetables in floating systems.
Experiments were carried out during the two successive growing periods and 4 EC levels (1.8, 2.8, 3.8 and 4.8 mS cm^‑1) of nutrient solution were compared.
Standard Hoagland nutrient solution was used as the control treatment (1.8 mS cm^‑1) and NaCl added was added for increasing salinity of this specified nutrient solution.
Yield, some quality parameters and leaf nutrient contents were determined.
Total yield changed between 568 and 1005 g m^‑2 in first season growing period and between 618 and 1231 g m^‑2 in the second period.
Also, the effects of treatments on rocket vitamin C (3.80-5.06 mg g^‑1), nitrate (67.79-238.15 mg kg^‑1) and nutrient contents were studied under different growing periods and under different salinity levels.
Overall results showed that, water culture as a floating system could successfully be used in the production of rocket.
Significant differences were determined as the salinity levels of the nutrient solution changed.
In this respect, it was concluded that the use of nutrient solution with a salinity level of 1.8 mS cm^‑1 was found more appropriate in terms of yield.

XXX International Horticultural Congress IHC2018: II International Symposium on Soilless Culture and VIII International Symposium on Seed, Transplant and Stand Establishment of Horticultural Crops

H. Duyar, C.C. Kılıç

soilless culture, quality, yield, leaf nutrition, baby vegetable

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2020.1273.12