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Nutrient Solutions on Yield and Quality
of Basil and Cress
a
b
J. A. Olfati , S. A. Khasmakhi-Sabet & H. Shabani
a
a
University of Guilan, Horticultural Department, Rasht, Iran
b
Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran
Available online: 19 Jun 2012
To cite this article: J. A. Olfati, S. A. Khasmakhi-Sabet & H. Shabani (2012): Nutrient Solutions on
Yield and Quality of Basil and Cress, International Journal of Vegetable Science, 18:3, 298-304
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International Journal of Vegetable Science, 18:298–304, 2012
Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
ISSN: 1931-5260 print / 1931-5279 online
DOI: 10.1080/19315260.2011.642475
Nutrient Solutions on Yield
and Quality of Basil and Cress
J. A. Olfati,1 S. A. Khasmakhi-Sabet,2 and H. Shabani1
Downloaded by [J. A. Olfati] at 22:08 19 June 2012
1
2
University of Guilan, Horticultural Department, Rasht, Iran
Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran
Hydroponics is a common culture method for production of herbs. It is necessary to
determine optimal ranges of elements in nutrient solutions. Four nutrient solutions,
with different total nitrogen concentrations and ammonium-to-nitrate ratios were used
to determine effects on yield and quality of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) and cress
(Lepidium sativum L.). Increasing ammonium benefited cress but not basil. Increasing
nitrate positively affected basil. Cress and basil do not appear to need high levels of
nutrients for production using hydroponics.
Keywords Ammonium, Leafy vegetables, Soilless culture, NFT, Nitrate, Nitrogen.
Herbs contain vitamins, minerals, and cellulose that are important to
human health (Peyvast, 2009). Greenhouse production can provide highquality products because weather conditions are not factors (Dorais et al.,
2001; Mairapetyan, 1999). The use of hydroponics increases absorption and
root metabolic activities, which increase plant growth (Dorais et al., 2001;
Mairapetyan, 1999; Manukyan et al., 2004). In order to provide appropriate
levels of nutrient elements for plants, adequate nutritional programs must
be used (Van Iersel and Kang, 2002). Concentrations of nutrient solutions
are used based on fertilizer recommendations and selected on the basis of
experience, plant species, cultivar, and growth stage (Schwarz et al., 2002).
Improved growth and yield of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) was obtained
with a full or half concentration of a nutrient solution (Suh et al., 1999).
Concentrations of nutrient solution on salvia (Salvia splendens L.) affected
plant root and shoot dry weights (Kang and Van Iersel, 2004). Udagawa (1995)
compared concentrations of nutrient solution on dill (Anethum graveolens L.)
and thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) and found that high concentrations of nutrient
solution increased plant fresh and dry weight but oil content was reduced.
Address correspondence to J. A. Olfati, Horticultural Department, University of Guilan,
Rasht, Iran. E-mail: [email protected]
Downloaded by [J. A. Olfati] at 22:08 19 June 2012
Nutrient Solutions
Nitrogen is essential for plant growth. As a macro-element, it is part of the
protein structure and participates in metabolic processes and energy transfer.
It is absorbed by the plant as ammonium (NH4 + ) or nitrate (NO3 − ) ions. The
form in which N is absorbed is, in part, dependent on pH (Trejo et al., 2008).
In hydroponics, nitrate and ammonium forms are used in nutrient solutions.
A balance between ammonium and nitrate favors plant growth and the degree
of benefit varies among crops (Mengel and Kirkby, 1987).
Nitrogen content in nutrient solutions and ammonium and nitrate levels
significantly affect absorption of other ions by plants (Salardini, 1993; Zornoza
et al., 1985). Increasing ammonium concentrations from 14 to 112 mg·L−1
reduces concentrations of potassium, calcium, magnesium; increases concentrations of ammonium in plants (Jose and Wilcox, 1984; Wilcox et al., 1985);
and increases absorption of phosphorus and some micro-elements related to
antagonistic ammonium effects (Ben and Kafkafi, 2002). Increasing ammonium in nutrient solution causes ascorbic acid to decrease depending on the
ammonium level (Mozafar, 1993). The negative effect of ammonium salts is in
response to the synthesis of vitamin C and is not associated with catabolism
rate in plant tissue (Mozafar, 1993).
Basil and cress provide significant amounts of nutrients essential to the
human diet (Peyvast, 2009). Field production of basil and cress is limited due
to unfavorable environmental conditions during part of the year. Hydroponic
greenhouse culture of these plants can help alleviate seasonal shortages of
these crops. This project was undertaken to determine the best nutrient
solution for production of basil and cress in a hydroponic system.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Stock solutions (Table 1) were used to produce treatment solutions with four
nitrogen levels and four ammonium-to-nitrate ratios (Table 2). Seed of basil
and cress were germinated in sponges and transferred to aluminum rails
in hydroponic production using a nutrient film technique apparatus after
Table 1: Micronutrients used for nutrient solution
preparation.
Compound
(NH4 )6Mo·7O2 /4H2 O
H3 BO3
MnSO4 ·4H2 O
CuSO4 ·5H2 O
ZnSO4 ·7H2 O
Sequesteren Fe 136
Milligrams per liter
in irrigation solution
0.05
1.5
2
0.25
1
10
299
300
2.2
3.2
1.1
1.6
KNO3
3.3
3.3
1.65
1.65
KH2 PO4
0.2
0.2
0.1
0.1
NaCl
5.3
5.2
2.65
2.6
CaNO3
concentration of NH4 in salts in solutions.
b Total concentration of NO in salts in solutions.
3
c Nitrogen equivalent as sum of NO and NH .
3
4
d Refers to salt concentrations in nutrient solution
a Total
1
2
3
4
Solution
1
0.1
0.5
0.05
3.6
4.6
1.8
2.3
K
1
0.1
0.5
0.05
NH4 a
8.5
8.5
4.25
4.25
NO3 b
9.5
8.6
4.75
4.3
Nc
89.47 : 10.53
98.8 : 1.2
89.47 : 10.53
98.8 : 1.2
NO3 :NHy
ratio
presented in the first six columns containing compounds.
1.5
1.5
0.75
0.75
NH4 NO3
Milliequivalents per liter
MgSO4
Table 2: Macronutrients used in nutrient solutions.
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13.5
13.5
6.75
6.75
Total
saltd
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Nutrient Solutions
14 d. Conditions of growth included a 16:8 h light:dark cycle with light supplied by high-pressure sodium vapor lamps (70-W power consumption; model
5000 E, Hoklartherm, Nuremberg, Germany). Temperatures during the experiment were 22◦ C during the day and 18◦ C at night. The experiment was
arranged in a completely randomized design with four replications. Total yield
was determined from a single harvest of cress and several harvests of basil.
After harvesting, a subsample from each replication was obtained and sample dry weights were determined after drying in an electric oven at 75 ± 5◦ C
until constant weight (Association of Official Analytical Chemists, 1984) was
reached.
Ascorbic acid was quantitatively determined using 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol dye (Ranganna, 1997). Ascorbic acid was extracted by
grinding 10 g of fresh sample in a mortar with pestle with 3% metaphosphoric
acid (v/v) as a protective agent. The extract was made up to a volume of
100 mL and centrifuged at 3000 g for 15 min at room temperature. Ten
milliliters was titrated against 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol dye, which had
been standardized against ascorbic acid.
Chlorophyll a and b and carotenoids were calculated after extraction by
N,N-di-methyl formamide using the colorimetric method of Inskeep and Bloom
(1985). Data were subjected to analysis of variance in SAS (ver. 9.1, SAS
Institute, Inc., Cary, N.C.). Means were separated using Tukey’s test.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Basil
Treatment affected all measured traits except dry matter and carotenoid
content (Table 3). The lowest yield was from plants treated with solution 3.
Values for ash in plants treated with solutions 1 and 2 were higher than those
treated with solution 3; plants treated with solution 4 were intermediate. The
Table 3: Effects of solution on chlorophyll a and b and vitamin C contents, and ash,
and yield in basil.
Solution
1
2
3
4
Chlorophyll b
(mg/100 g FW)
Chlorophyll a
(mg/100 g FW)
Vitamin C
(mg/100 g FW)
Ash (% dry
matter)
Yield
(g·m−2 )
964.7 b
1126.4 a
423.3 c
654.1 b
59.46 b
57.24 b
58.36 b
69.66 a
6.28 ab
6.14 b
6.32 a
6.20 ab
16.52 a
16.62 a
15.25 b
15.47 ab
258.60 a
258.60 a
174.28 b
234.76 a
Values in a column followed by the same letter are not significantly different at P ≤ 0.01 or P ≤
0.05, Tukey’s test.
301
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302
J. A. Olfati et al.
vitamin C content was higher in plants treated with solution 3 than with solution 2. Plants treated with solutions 1 and 4 were intermediate. Chlorophyll a
content was highest in plants treated with solution 4 and chlorophyll b content
was highest in plants treated with solution 2. Dry matter averaged 7.8% and
carotenoids averaged 0.46 mg/100 g FW. Unlike for cress, solution 3 was not
the best choice for basil production using hydroponics. The best growth and
yield in basil was obtained when a full or half concentration of the standard
solution was used (Suh et al., 1999). Kang and Van Iersel (2004) and Udagawa
(1995) reported that nutrient solution concentration of total salt affected root
and shoot of dill and thyme dry weight. Their results do not correspond with
those reported here for basil because total salt concentration did not affect
basil.
Cress
Yield and contents of dry matter, ash, ascorbic acid, and chlorophyll b,
but not chlorophyll a or carotenoids, were affected by treatment (Table 4).
Plants treated with solution 2 did not produce yields equal to those treated
with the other solutions. Plants treated with solution 1 produced plants with
less dry matter than plants treated with solution 3. Dry matter for plants
treated with solutions 2 and 4 were similar to both extremes. Plants treated
with solution 3 produced more ash than those treated with the other solutions.
Vitamin C content in plants treated with solution 2 was higher than in those
treated with solution 3; plants treated with the other solutions were intermediate. Chlorophyll b content was highest in plants treated with solution
3. Chlorophyll a content averaged 445 mg/100 g FW and carotenoid content
averaged 0.55 mg/100 g FW. Solution 3 appears to be as good as, or better
than, the other solutions for production of cress and could probably provide the
most benefit under hydroponic production. Similar results have been reported
in basil (Suh et al., 1999). However, our results indicated that basil requires
low concentrations of ammonium in the nutrient solution and responds better to NO3 than NH4 . Mozafar (1993) reported that high levels of ammonium
Table 4: Effects of solution on chlorophyll b and vitamin C contents and ash, dry
matter, and yield in cress.
Solution
1
2
3
4
Chlorophyll b
(mg/100 g FW)
Vitamin C
(mg/100 g FW)
Ash (% dry
matter)
Dry matter
(%)
Yield
(g·m−2 )
898.52 b
815.53 b
1307.67 a
935.44 b
6.71 ab
6.76 a
6.64 b
6.67 ab
15.49 b
15.27 b
17.09 a
15.75 b
4.58 b
5.50 ab
15.99 a
8.43 ab
126.80 a
66.99 b
172.60 a
151.49 a
Values in a column followed by the same letter are not significantly different at P ≤ 0.01 or P ≤
0.05, Tukey’s test.
Nutrient Solutions
decrease ascorbic acid concentration, indicating that the effects on vitamin C
synthesis are not related to catabolism. The reason for this finding requires
clarification.
Cress and basil responded differently to nutrient solutions. Ammonium
positively affected cress but not basil. Nitrate positively affected basil. Cress
and basil do not appear to need high levels of nutrients for production using
hydroponics.
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