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
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 Contributions welcome at : http://www.tshe.org/en/
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