Production of Hydroponic Lettuce under Different Salt Levels of Nutritive Solution

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different levels of salinity on the production of two cultivars of crisp lettuce under hydroponic cultivation. The research was performed in a protected environment at the Federal University of Campina Grande (UFCG), state of Paraíba, during in the period from 1 to 22 September 2016. The experimental design was completely randomized (CRD) which involved 4 × 2 factorial scheme with four levels of electrical conductivity of the nutrient solution (1.6, 3.6, 5.6 and 7.6 dS m-1) and two lettuce cultivars, Valentina (C1) and Alcione (C2), that totalized 8 treatments with 3 replicates. The evaluated variables were fresh and dry biomass of leaves, stems and roots. The results were subjected to analysis of variance by F-test (p < 0.05), the averages were compared by Tukey’s test (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05), and quantitative variables data were submitted to regression test. It was observed that the fresh leaves biomass and fresh stem biomass were significantly affected by salinity in all evaluated periods. However, cultivar factor singly presented significant statistical difference only for fresh root biomass. There was statistical interaction between the factors at 15 DAT for dry leaves biomass and at 21 DAT for dry stem biomass. It was concluded that, although some variables were significantly affected by the salinity of the nutritive solution, the hydroponic lettuce production was satisfactory in NFT system for electrical conductivity up to 3.5 dS m-1 for variables with commercial relevance.