Effect of Electrical Conductivity (EC) and Number of Seeds per Net Pot on Growth and Products of Pakcoy (Brassica rapa L.) in Hydroponic Deep Flow Technique

Abstract

The EC value and the number of seeds per net pot are very influential factors in the cultivation of pakcoy plants (Brassica rapa L.), which are cultivated hydroponically. Each harvesting age and the number of plants per plant net pot have a different EC value requirement. Pakcoy plants are plants that are widely cultivated hydroponically and have high economic value. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of differences in EC values and the number of seeds per net pot on hydroponic cultivation. The experiment was designed using a nested randomized block design (RBD) with two treatments. The first treatment was the EC value which consisted of 5 treatments namely K1 (EC 1 mS/cm), K2 (EC 1.5 mS/cm), K3 (EC 2 mS/cm), K4 (EC 2.5 mS/cm), and K5 (EC 3 mS/cm) and the second treatment was the number of seedlings per net pot J1 (1 seed per net pot), J2 (2 seedlings per net pot), and J3 (3 seedlings per net pot). All treatments were repeated three times. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse located in Banjar Selantang, Belok Sidan Village, Petang District, Badung Regency, Bali, from January to March 2022. The results showed that EC 2 (K2) treatment, and planting 1 seed per net pot (J1) was best for baby harvest, while for juvenile and adult harvests the EC 3 (K3) treatment, and 1 seed per net pot (J1) was the best in cultivating pakcoy plants in the Deep Flow Technique (DFT) hydroponic system.