Evaluation of a simple re-circulating hydroponic system for sweet pepper (Capsicum annum L.) and pechay (Brassica napus L.)

Abstract

This study assessed the growth, yield and profitability of sweet pepper and pechay grown in a simple, locally designed re-circulating hydroponics system (RHS) provided with coarse river sand and coco-coir dust as aggregates at different ratios. The system consisted of 6 pans (40-cm wide, 2.2 m long, 10 cm deep) made of galvanized iron (G.I.) sheets. The nutrient solution is delivered from a plastic drum by gravity to the aggregates through a system of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes provided with small holes. Each end of the pan is provided with a hole where excess solution drains into a collecting container, which is then re-circulated back into the drum. The performance of the crops under this system was compared to those grown under the conventional (soil-grown), and Simple Nutrient Addition Program (SNAP) hydroponics system. Pechay plants grown in the RI-1S were taller, produced more leaves, had faster growth and development and had higher yield compared to those grown in SNAP hydroponics and conventional system. Sweet pepper plants grown in the RHS also had better growth and higher yield compared to the SNAP hydroponics and conventional production systems. The ratio of coarse sand and coco-coir dust as aggregate for the RHS did not significantly affect growth and yield of the two crops. A projected cost and return analysis considering a pechay-pechay-sweet pepper-pechay-pechay-sweet pepper 1-year crop rotation scheme revealed that the use of RHS had higher profitability compared to the other two production systems.

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. Rincon) Production Using Organic Nutrient Solution under Hydroponics System

“…This was done by counting the number of marketable and non-marketable head of lettuce (Diputado et al 2005;Gonzaga et al 2018) and it was done during harvest.…”

“…This was measured by weighing the marketable and non-marketable head of lettuce using a digital analytical weighing scale during the harvest. Average values was taken by dividing the total fresh weight of lettuce head to the total number of plants per treatment (Diputado et al 2005;Gonzaga et al 2018) and is was done after harvest.…”

“…This refers to the total weight of marketable and nonmarketable yield of lettuce head (Poliquit et al 2019;Diputado et al 2005)…”

Performance evaluation of pechay (Brassica rapa var. chinensis) using different organic growing media under hydroponic system

“…Growing vegetables via soil-based cultivation face many challenges, including limited land availability due to converting fertile agricultural land into industrial uses, depleted soil productivity, and poor soil fertility for continuous cultivation [1,2]. There is also increasing problems in soil-based production system aside from soil exhaustion which includes pest infestation and chemical interference due to increase cropping intensity and excessively used of pesticide or continuous practice of monoculture [1][2][3]. Climate change also threatened conventional production systems due to rising temperatures, increased frequency of dry periods, erratic weather patterns, poor management of water resources from watershed due to excessive use of water for irrigation which results in huge amounts of water wastage, unmonitored contaminated and polluted water bodies, and declining level of groundwater which have exacerbated the prevailing scarcity for land and water and continuously inflict damage on farming and reduce chances in profitable crop production [2,3].…”

“…There is also increasing problems in soil-based production system aside from soil exhaustion which includes pest infestation and chemical interference due to increase cropping intensity and excessively used of pesticide or continuous practice of monoculture [1][2][3]. Climate change also threatened conventional production systems due to rising temperatures, increased frequency of dry periods, erratic weather patterns, poor management of water resources from watershed due to excessive use of water for irrigation which results in huge amounts of water wastage, unmonitored contaminated and polluted water bodies, and declining level of groundwater which have exacerbated the prevailing scarcity for land and water and continuously inflict damage on farming and reduce chances in profitable crop production [2,3]. In this regard, an alternative way of growing 1208 (2023) 012038 IOP Publishing doi:10.1088/1755-1315/1208/1/012038 2 vegetables that is not reliant on soil and can provide more benefits than traditional soil-based vegetable production should be considered.…”