Abstract

MALDONADO TORRES, Ranferi; ALVAREZ SANCHEZ, Ma. Edna; ACEVEDO, David Cristóbal  and  RIOS SANCHEZ, Everardo. Mineral nutrition of hydroponic green forage. Rev. Chapingo Ser.Hortic [online]. 2013, vol.19, n.2, pp.211-223. ISSN 2007-4034.  https://doi.org/10.5154/r.rchsh.2011.10.053.

In this study we determined the nutritional value, forage yield and nitrate concentration in hydroponic green forage (HGF) obtained from wheat plants. Six treatments were evaluated, which consisted of T₀, where solely tap water was applied; from T₁ to T_4, we tested nutrient solutions based on the Steiner (1961) method, which modified the ratio of NO₃^-/NH₄⁺ in mol·m^-3 (T₁=12/0, T₂=7.3/ 0.7, T₃=7.0/1.4, T₄= 6.0/2.8), and T₅ consisted of a nutrient solution proposed by FAO, (ratio NO₃^-/NH₄⁺ of 3.2/0.4 in mol·m^-3). Wheat seeds (Rebeca F200 variety) previously soaked in solely tap water for 12 h were sown at a density of 3.2 kg·m^-2 using plastic trays. We used a completely randomized design with four replications. Plant height (PH), yield per square meter (YISM), conversion ratio from seed to forage (CR), dry matter, ash, fiber, protein and nitrate concentration were measured. Treatments T₂ (19.0 %), T₁ (18.5 %), T₃ (17.9 %) and T₄ (16.75 %) had the highest concentration of protein. The lowest concentration of nitrate in the HGF was obtained in treatments T₀ (3,542.2 mg·kg^-1) and T₃ (3,348.2 mg·kg^-1). Although nitrogen was not applied to the control in T₀, it showed a protein percentage of 15.3 %, which can be considered acceptable. The best treatment for the production of green hydroponic forage was T₃, with a 17.9 % of protein and a nitrate concentration of 3,348.2 mg·kg^-1. Applying 17.5 % N in the form of ammonium reduced the concentration of nitrate. On the other hand, with 33.3 % of NH₄⁺ toxic effects in seedlings were observed.

Keywords : Nutrient solutions; wheat; nutritive value; nitrate.

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