Sophary Khin, Mithona Phon, Ratha Rien, Panha Pok, Pao Srean*
Faculty of Agriculture and Food Processing, University of Battambang, Battambang 020101, Cambodia.
*Corresponding author: e-mail: pao.srean@ubb.edu.kh
Abstract
Hydroponic
technique is currently becoming popular for vegetable production due to efficient resources management and quality food production. The objective of this study was to determine plant growth and development of hydroponic
curly endive responding to applications of macronutrients (N, K, Ca, Mg and S) via drip irrigation. The experiment was conducted in a net house, with three different macronutrient concentrations (low: N1, medium: N2
and high: N3). Endive lettuce seedings with 2–3 leave were grown in mixed substrate of sand and coconut filer (1:1 v/v), and fed by N1, N2 and N3 concentrations for 25 days via drip irrigation. The curly endive achieved
the highest yield in N2 treatment, providing sufficient level for plant growth, whereas the lower concentration of macronutrient provided longer leave, but less leaf number per plant. The optimize macronutrient concentration
provides a better productivity.
Keywords: hydroponics, drip irrigation, lettuce, soilless culture and vegetable.
