Performance analysis of two typical greenhouse lettuce production systems: commercial hydroponic production and traditional soil cultivation

Abstract

IntroductionDue to the shortage of land and water resource, optimization of systems for production in commercial greenhouses is essential for sustainable vegetable supply. The performance of lettuce productivity and the economic benefit in greenhouses using a soil-based system (SBS) and a hydroponic production system (HPS) were compared in this study.MethodsExperiments were conducted in two identical greenhouses over two growth cycles (G1 and G2). Three treatments of irrigation volumes (S1, S2, and S3) were evaluated for SBS while three treatments of nutrient solution concentration (H1, H2, and H3) were evaluated for HPS; the optimal levels from each system were then compared.Results and discussionHPS was more sensitive to the effects of environmental temperature than SBS because of higher soil buffer capacity. Compared with SBS, higher yield (more than 134%) and higher water productivity (more than 50%) were observed in HPS. We detected significant increases in ascorbic acid by 28.31% and 16.67% and in soluble sugar by 57.84% and 32.23% during G1 and G2, respectively, compared with SBS. However, nitrate accumulated in HPS-grown lettuce. When the nutrient solution was replaced with fresh water 3 days before harvest, the excess nitrate content of harvested lettuce in HPS was removed. The initial investment and total operating cost in HPS were 21.76 times and 47.09% higher than those in SBS, respectively. Consideration of agronomic, quality, and economic indicators showed an overall optimal performance of the H2 treatment. These findings indicated that, in spite of its higher initial investment and requirement of advanced technology and management, HPS was more profitable than SBS for commercial lettuce production.

A Decision Support System for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Loss Reduction under Uncertain Agricultural Policy Frameworks

“…The main types are crisphead, butterhead, looseleaf (e.g., batavia, oak leaf lettuce) and romaine [20], with seeds sown in glasshouses or polythene tunnels ahead of transplanting them into the field. Consistent temperature, irrigation, relative humidity, pH and electrical conductivity together with fertilisation (NPK) are necessary for growth [21]. Several pests and diseases may affect lettuce during production, leading to higher levels of food loss [20].…”

Deficit Irrigation with Silicon Application as Strategy to Increase Yield, Photosynthesis and Water Productivity in Lettuce Crops

“…Foliar segments (1 cm 2 ) were cut and weighed to obtain fresh mass and were then submerged in distilled water to saturate for the next 24 h, in the dark, recording the turgor mass. The dry mass of the segments was obtained after 72 h at 65 • C. RWC was calculated by using Equation (7):…”

“…Demand grows due to the population's awareness of healthy eating and a better quality of life, as it is a vegetable that presents many minerals, vitamins and bioactive compounds such as carotenoids and phenolic compounds [6]. There are two typical lettuce production systems, hydroponic and traditional soil cultivation [7]; regardless of the production system, it is a demanding crop in terms of irrigation; that is, in conditions of water deficit, it can have a negative impact on its growth and development. The negative effects caused in plants due to water deficit occur in morphological, productive, physiological, biochemical and molecular aspects [8], such as yield and biomass reduction [9,10], stomatal closure to reduce water loss through transpiration, compromised CO 2 availability [11], reduced photosynthetic performance, and chlorophyll degradation [12].…”

Hydroponics with Microalgae and Cyanobacteria: Emerging Trends and Opportunities in Modern Agriculture

“…As the population grows and urbanization expands, major cities could face significant challenges in producing staple food crops through conventional hinterland farming [ 3 , 5 ]. To address this issue, cultivators are exploring intensive agricultural production strategies to deliver high crop yields and economic returns despite the limited availability of arable land resources and the high cost of labor [ 6 ]. In this regard, several studies have proposed distinct sustainable farming techniques in urban areas to combat the shortage of farmable land and increase food security by improving the resilience of food supply chains and resource efficiency [ 7 ].…”