Eficacia de tres soluciones nutritivas mediante Hidroponía a raíz flotante en la producción de lechuga (Lactuca sativa L.) var. Crispa en invernadero.

Abstract

The objective of this research work was to evaluate the effectiveness of three nutrient solutions through floating root hydroponics in the production of lettuce (Lactuca sativa l.) var. Crispa in the greenhouse of the Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Natural Resources, ESPOCH; in which a completely randomized design CND was applied with three treatments and three replications. The parameters evaluated were lettuce apprehension, absolute growth index (AGI), net assimilation index (NAI), root weight ratio (RWR), leaf weight ratio (LWR), harvest index (K), yield per hectare, economic analysis, and cost-benefit ratio. The best treatment was T1 at (75%) of the compound nutrient solution of N: 153.75; P: 37.5; K 157.5; Ca 142.5; Mg 22.5; S 29.25; Fe 2.25; Mn 0.37; Zn 0.06, and B 1.5 ppm; where the best results were obtained with the following morphological and physiological parameters: percentage of apprehension of 98%, an AGI of 2.51 g/day, an NAI of 0.19g/cm2 /day, an RWR with 27.26%, an LWR of 64.57%, K was 87.96% and a yield per hectare of 14215.50 kg/ha. While the B/C ratio was US$1.68, giving profitability of 67.64%. Therefore, treatment T1 at 75% nutrient solution N: 153.75; P: 37.5; K 157.5; Ca 142.5; Mg 22.5; S 29.25; Fe 2.25; Mn 0.37; Zn 0.06, and B 1.5 ppm, outperforms in yield and reduces production costs thus giving better profitability than treatments T2 (100%) and T3 (125%). It is recommended to use the nutrient solution N: 153.75; P: 37.5; K 157.5; Ca 142.5; Mg 22.5; S 29.25; Fe 2.25; Mn 0.37; Zn 0.06, and B 1.5 ppm for better performance in the floating root hydroponic system.