Hydroponic lettuce production in different concentrations and flow rates of nutrient solution

The objective of this study was to evaluate the accumulation of fresh weight of hydroponic lettuce in terms of ionic concentrations and flow rates of nutrient solution. This work consisted of three experiments in NFT hydroponic system, conducted between July and September 2006. Lettuce cultivars Lucy Brown, Izabela and Veneza were grown in different ionic concentrations of the 100, 75 and 50% and flow rates of 1.50, 1.00 and 0.75 L min(-1). Fresh weight gains were observed for Lucy Brown when grown on 100% of the ion concentration and a flow rate of nutrient solution of 1.0 L min(-1). Greater fresh mass was observed for cvs. Izabela and Veneza under the flow rate of 1.5 L min(-1). A general analysis of the data allows us to conclude that the application of nutrient solution at a flow rate of 1.5 L min(-1), as well as 100% of the ionic concentration is effective to increase the fresh weight of the aerial part of cvs. Lucy Brown, Izabela and Veneza when grown in hydroponics.