Neodymium and zinc stimulate growth, biomass accumulation and nutrient uptake of lettuce plants in hydroponics

ABSTRACT We evaluated the effects of neodymium (0.000, 2.885, 5.770 and 8.655 mg · L −1 ) and zinc (0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 mg · L −1 ), as well as their interaction on lettuce plants in hydroponics. Applications of 2.885 mg Nd · L −1 and 5.770 mg Nd · L −1 increased plant height, number of leaves and leaf area, as well as fresh and dry stem, root and total biomasses. Root volume was greater in plants treated with 2.885 mg Nd · L −1 . With 0.1 mg Zn · L −1 , plant height, leaf area and fresh stem, root and total biomass were greater, while applying 0.3 mg Zn · L −1 increased the ratio of dry biomass of stems and roots. Plants exposed to 5.770 mg Nd · L −1 + 0.3 mg Zn · L −1 exhibited greater leaf length. The ratios of fresh and dry biomass of stems and roots increased in plants treated with 8.655 mg · L −1 Nd + 0.3 mg Zn · L −1 . Dry biomass weights of stems, roots and total were the highest in plants treated with 20 mg Nd · L −1 + 0.1 mg Zn · L −1 . Nd significantly increased foliar concentration of N, P and K. Hence, Nd and Zn improve growth and nutrition.