Effect of water flow rate on quantity and quality of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) in nutrient film technique (NFT) under hydroponics conditions

Al-Tawaha, A. R., Al-Karaki, G., Al-Tawaha, A. R., Sirajuddin, S. N., Makhadmeh, I., Wahab, P. E. M., Youssef, R. A., Al Sultan, W. & Massadeh, A. (2018). Effect of water fl ow rate on quantity and quality of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) in nutrient fi lm technique (NFT) under hydroponics conditions. Bulgarian Journal of Agricultural Science, 24(5), 793–800 In the study of hydroponics, questions have risen concerning about ideal water fl ow that allow the plant to absorbing highest amount of nutrient from the nutrient solution during irrigating process. Thus, this experiment was aimed to determine the ideal water fl ow rate in nutrient fi lm technique system in order to optimize the nutrients uptake with growth of lettuce. Different fl ow rates 10, 20 and 30 L/hour were assigned as T1, T2 and T3, respectively, with lettuce plants and the space between plants 15 cm. Generally, the growth decreased signifi cantly with increasing in water fl ow rate. The analysis of lettuce hydroponics variable reveals that fl ow rate at 20 L/hour provides higher mean rank rather than other fl ow rate 10 L/hour and 30 L/hour. The fi ndings of this research stated that if fl ow rate is increased to 30 L/hour plant height, number of leaves, number of outer and inner leaves, heat mass and stem mass decreases. On the whole from the analysis it is concluded that for fl ow rate 20 L/hour enhances the growth rate of lettuce in hydroponics hence it is stated that fl ow rate of 20 L/hour is good fl ow rate rather than 10 L/hour and 30 L/hour. Water fl ow in nutrient fi lm technique is essential to be ideal through allow the plants root to absorb all elements needed form nutrient solutions in hydroponics system. And thus, water movement in the system and the rate of turnover should be designed to ensure good contact time for roots and water fl ow in the system.