The Effect of Used Different Waste Growing Media on Soilless Lettuce Cultivation


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KİLİM M., Yörük E., HAZNECİ E., ÖZER H., GÜRDİL G. A. K.

Anadolu Tarım Bilimleri Dergisi, vol.37, no.2, pp.373-386, 2022 (Peer-Reviewed Journal) identifier

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of reusing the growing media (TSW; tomato stalk waste, PTSW; pretreated tomato stalk waste, Peat + Perlite, Cocopeat) used in soilless agriculture on soilless lettuce cultivation. Significant effects of growing media on stem diameter, root length, total dry weight, yield, titratable acidity, SSC and Vitamin C values of lettuce (Maritima) grown without soil were determined (p<0.05; p<0.01). As a result, the highest root length (33.63 cm), total dry weight (27.22 g) and yield (558 g plant-1) were obtained from TSW medium. The highest titratable acidity values (1.05 g 100 mL-1) and Vitamin C (391.6 mg 100 g-1) were obtained from PTSW medium. It has been determined that TSW and PTSW media can compete with growing commercial media, especially in yield and quality. The second use of the growing medium created from tomato waste significantly reduced the production costs. As a result, it has been determined that tomato waste (TSW) is a good alternative for productivity and profitability instead of a commercial growing medium.