INFLUENCES OF MINERAL NUTRITION ON GROWTH AND ELEMENTAL COMPOSITION OF HYDROPONICALLY GROWN ZUCCHINI PLANTS

Zucchini squash (Cucurbita pepo L. cv.
Afrodite) plants were grown for nine weeks in perlite bags to evaluate the influences of eight nutrient formulations and two total ion doses (0.5 and 1 eq plant^-1) on growth and elemental composition of zucchini plants.
The nutrient formulation treatments included an anionic group (NO₃^–, SO₄^2-, PO₄^3-, Cl^–), and a cationic group (K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺). Anionic treatments showed a higher impact on dry weight and mineral composition of zucchini plants than cationic treatments.
The highest dry weights of plants and all plant organs were obtained in treatment with high proportion of NO3-, while treatments with high proportion of SO₄^2-, PO₄^3-, and Cl^– gave the lowest values.
Cationic treatments showed intermediate values.
Dry weight of plant and its organs increased by increasing the total ion dose.
Nutrient concentrations of vegetative parts of plant were more affected than those of fruits.
The concentrations of each nutrient in plant organs increased as a consequence of increasing the proportion or concentration of the same nutrient in the medium.

International Symposium on Growing Media and Hydroponics

G. Colla, Y. Rouphael, A.L. Molle, F. Saccardo, A. Graifenberg, L. Giustiniani

soilless, Cucurbita pepo, nutrient interaction, nutrient dose

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2004.644.53