Effect of Nutrient Solution Flow Rate on Hydroponic Plant Growth and Root Morphology.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Baiyin B
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8465728 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:It is common in hydroponics to supply nutrients to crops by maintaining electrical conductivity (EC) of the recycling solution at a target level. Levels of individual nutrients in the solution are generally not assessed as their regular measurement and adjustment can be both expensive and technically challenging. However, the approach of growing crops at a target EC can potentially result in nutrient imbalances in the solution and reduced growth. We quantified the effects of recycling on solution EC changes, tissue nutrient concentration, canopy growth rate, plant water status, and shoot and root weight of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) in a greenhouse. The tap water quality was moderately alkaline and similar to that commonly observed in many commercial greenhouses. In our research, recycling solution maintained at a target EC (1.8 dS⋅m-1) significantly reduced shoot fresh (22-36%) and dry weight compared to the control supplied regularly with freshly prepared solution at the target EC. Further, recycling significantly decreased N, P, K, and Fe and increased Na and Cu levels in the tissue, in addition to increasing solution EC between adjustments compared to the control. Using image analysis of groups of plants, we identified that the negative effects of recycling on canopy area started 2 weeks after transplanting. Based on these results, we hypothesized that certain unwanted compounds (e.g., bicarbonates) and slowly consumed elements (e.g., Ca, Mg) were added to the recycling solution through the alkaline tap water with time. Their accumulation "artificially" increased solution EC and "masked" the lower than optimal levels of major nutrients in the solution, leading to the reductions in the concentration of nutrients in the tissue and plant growth. Supporting this, the negative effects of recycling were not observed when the recycling solution was either discarded after 2 weeks of use or made using reverse osmosis water and continuously used. Our findings aid in proper management of recycling solution in hydroponic lettuce production.
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Project description:Plant-derived smoke solution enhances soybean root growth; however, its mechanism is not clearly understood. Subcellular proteomics techniques were used for underlying roles of plant-derived smoke solution on soybean root growth. The fractions of membrane and nucleus were purified and evaluated for purity. ATPase and histone were enriched in the fractions of membrane and nucleus, respectively. Principal component analysis of proteomic results indicated that the plant-derived smoke solution affected the proteins in the membrane and nucleus. The proteins in the membrane and nucleus mainly increased and decreased, respectively, by the treatment of plant-derived smoke solution compared with control. In the proteins in the plasma membrane, ATPase increased, which was confirmed by immunoblot analysis, and ATP contents increased through the treatment of plant-derived smoke solution. Additionally, although the nuclear proteins mainly decreased, the expression of RNA polymerase II was up-regulated through the treatment of plant-derived smoke solution. These results indicate that plant-derived smoke solution enhanced soybean root growth through the transcriptional promotion with RNA polymerase II expression and the energy production with ATPase accumulation.
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