Growth and effectiveness of the Arugula (Eruca vesicaria) in the outdoor hydroponic system.
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Mahsa Daryadar,1,* Anna Tadevosyan,2 Juletta Alexanyan,3 Anahit Tovmasyan,4 Artur Matevosyan,5 Stepan Mayrapetyan,,6
1. Institute of Hydroponics Problems, Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and Productivity, National Academy of Sciences
2. Institute of Hydroponics Problems, Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and Productivity, National Academy of Sciences
3. Institute of Hydroponics Problems, Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and Productivity, National Academy of Sciences
4. Institute of Hydroponics Problems, Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and Productivity, National Academy of Sciences
5. Institute of Hydroponics Problems, Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and Productivity, National Academy of Sciences
6. Institute of Hydroponics Problems, Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and Productivity, National Academy of Sciences
- Introduction: Nowadays, under the influence of rapid population growth, land desertification, and climate change, many agricultural problems have begun to appear. Hydroponics as a new field of biological industry, modern biotechnological method to obtain raw materials, provides optimal conditions for plant growth and through advanced conditions, more efficient raw materials, high quality and ecologically clean to gains.In recent years, the Institute of Hydroponics at the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia has conducted numerous studies on the quality and effect of Davtyan nutrient solution on the growth, development and efficiency of a variety of useful and valuable vegetables, including Arugula (Eruca vesicaria).
- Methods: The experiments were carried out in self-nourishing hydroponic equipments (with the density of 70 plants/m2), using EBB & Flow hydroponic system. A mixture of volcanic slag + gravel in 1:1 ratio with the 3-15 mm diameter particles was used as a substrate. The plants nourishment were done with different concentrations (0.5 N, 0.75 N, 1.0 N 1.25 N) of Davtyan’s nutrient solution. Arugula is early-ripening (35-40 days), so the experiments were carried out twice during the vegetation: in spring - in April and in summer - in August. Ordinary soil culture served as a control. During the vegetation biometric measurements and a number of biochemical-physiological analyzes have been done. The content of vitamin C in the plant raw material was determined according to Yermakov, the content of β carotene has been estimated according to Sapozhnikov, extractive substances according to State Pharmacopoeia and the total content of flavonoids according to Georgysky.
- Results: The results of research showed that in hydroponic culture the relatively high yield (1.1-1.2 times) of arugula in the first and second growing season was observed at a concentration of 1.0 N of nutrient solution. And the cultivation of the soil by the mentioned indicator was inferior to other hydroponic variants in period I - by 1,2-1,4 times and in period II - by 1,1-1,3 times.. Higher content of vitamin C in plant raw materials was observed in the first (1.4-2.4 and 1.6-2.9 times) and second (1.3-1.8 and 1.5-2.4 times) periods at 1.0 N concentration of nutrient solution. At the same time, high content (1.4-1.6 times) and output (1.6-2.4 times) of β-carotene was also observed under 1.0 N concentration of nutrient solution.
- Conclusion: During both growing season the relatively high yield of arugula and the high content of vitamin C and β-carotene were observed at 1.0 N concentration of nutrient solution and at soil culture.
- Keywords: hydroponics, arugula, vitamin C, β-carotene, biotechnology
