2017 ASHS Annual Conference

Hydroponics is gaining in popularity as an ecofriendly and sustainable way of farming across the world by allowing efficient use of fertilizers and water. Among the various factors determining the output of a hydroponic production system, nutrient solution is the most important one for crop yield and quality. This study evaluated three different fertilizers including Jack’s 5-12-26, Peter’s 5-11-26, and Dyna Gro 7-9-5. The pH was maintained at a range of 5.5-6.5 and the electrical conductivity was maintained in the range of 1.5-2.5. Six cultivars of lettuce including ‘Dragoon’ (romaine type), ‘Mirlo’ (butterhead type), ‘Panese’ (oakleaf type), ‘Ruby Sky’ (leaf lettuce), ‘Rex’ (butterhead type), and ‘Oscarde’ (oakleaf type) and three cultivars of Swiss chard including ‘Rainbow Chard’, ‘Barese’, ‘Fordhook Giant’ and three cultivars of basil including ‘Large Leaf’, ‘Lemon’, and ‘Sweet Basil’ were selected for cultivation in an indoor hydroponic system designed as NFT (Nutrient Film Technique). Seedlings were transferred to NFT after 30 days and harvested after 45 days after transplanting. A cultivar effect was found in Swiss chard as the fresh weight of ‘Fordhooke Giant’ was higher in all three fertilizers. For lettuce fresh weight and dry weight, there was an interaction among cultivars and fertilizers indicating that the ‘Mirlo’ and ‘Rubysky’ produced higher in all three fertilizers than other cultivars while ‘Dragoon’ produced performed good in Dyna Gro and Jacks but not in Peters. There was no effects observed for basil fresh weight. ‘Panese’ and ‘Lemon’ in Dyna Gro showed tip burn, which is undesirable. Based on nutrient analysis, Dyna Gro was not low in calcium and its pH was less stable compared to the other two fertilizers.