ThaiScience  


ENIVRONMENT ASIA


Volume 13, No. S, Month JANUARY, Year 2020, Pages 72 - 80


Productivity, pigment composition and chemical characteristics of kale (brassica oleracea l.) cultivated with different ages of organic nutrient solutions under aggregate hydroponic system

Felix M. Salas, Helen Mae N. Mejia, and Rosario A. Salas


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This study was conducted to determine the growth and yield response of two varieties of kale in an aggregate hydroponic system under Visca agro-climatic condition, investigate the chemical characteristics of kale applied with different ages of organic liquid nutrient solutions, and assess the efficacy of organic liquid nutrient formulations for kale production in an aggregate hydroponic system following a split-plot randomized complete block design. The experiment was laid-out with varieties of kale as the main plot and organic nutrient solutions of different ages derived from acacia and moringa as the sub-plot with the following treatment designations replicated four times: T1- commercial inorganic nutrient solution (CINS), T2- 4 month old fermented acacia (FAC4), T3- 3 month old fermented acacia (FAC3), T4- 2 month old fermented acacia (FAC2), T5- 1 month old fermented acacia (FAC1), T6- 4 month old fermented moringa (FMY4), T7- 3 month old fermented moringa (FMY3), T8- 2 month old fermented moringa (FMY2), and T9- 1 month old fermented moringa (FMY1). The aggregate was composed of sterilized river sand and coconut coir mixture in 3:1 ratio by volume. Kale applied with one-month old moringa ferment significantly exhibited the best growth and yield (435.9g/plant) response. Kailaan variety of kale significantly showed greater number of leaves (12.31), but the Toscana variety significantly yielded (148.72 g/plant) better. Kale applied with a month old acacia and moringa ferments significantly gave the highest pigment composition regardless of variety except for the total carotenoid content of Toscana variety. The highest electrical conductivity was found on kale applied with commercial inorganic nutrient solution, 3- and 4-month old moringa ferments. The free radical scavenging activity was found significantly highest on kale cultivated with a month old acacia and moringa ferments. Redox potential was found lowest on kale applied with 4-month old moringa ferment to indicate better shelf-life and storability. In terms of variety, Kailaan possess better chemical characteristics in terms of electrical conductivity, free radical scavenging activity, and redox potential. Vitamin C content of kale was significantly influenced by the application of moringa ferments regardless of age particularly with Toscana variety. The overall result of the study suggests the applicability of acacia and moringa ferments as potential nutrient solutions for aggregate hydroponic production of kale which can primarily support the advocacy for climate smart organic farming system.


Keywords

Acacia, Aggregate hydroponics, Chemical characteristics, Ferments, Kale, Moringa



ENIVRONMENT ASIA


Published by : Thai Society of Higher Education Institutes on Environment
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