Optimizing the cultivation of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. longifolia) in hydroponic systems: A comparative system evaluation

The study investigates the impact of five hydroponic systems viz., Nutrient Film Technique (NFT), Deep Flow Technique (DFT), Ebb and Flow System (EFS), Dutch Bucket (DB) and Floating Raft System (RFS) on the growth and yield of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) for the variety Green Wave. The experiment was conducted at the experimental farm of CSK HPKV, Palampur, this research aimed to identify the most efficient system for enhancing lettuce growth, considering parameters such as leaf area index (LAI), number of leaves per plant, number of pickings, stem thickness, stem length, plant height, days to marketable maturity, yield per plant, yield per square meter and root length. The study, designed as a completely randomized experiment, revealed that the NFT system consistently outperformed other systems across most growth parameters, including LAI, number of leaves per plant, stem length, plant height, days to marketable maturity, yield per plant and yield per square meter. The RFS exhibited the highest number of pickings, suggesting quicker harvest cycles. Conversely, the DB system showed the longest time to maturity and root length, indicating less efficient nutrient uptake. The B:C ratio proved that the highest return is given by NFT hydroponic system for the variety Green Wave. These findings highlight NFT as the superior system for lettuce production, providing insights for growers to optimize their hydroponic operations for maximal productivity and crop quality.