NaCl accumulation and macronutrient uptake by a melon crop in a closed hydroponic system in relation to water uptake

Damianos Neocleous and Dimitrios Savvas

Agricultural Water Management, 2016, vol. 165, issue C, 22-32

Abstract: To optimize nutrient supply in melon (Cucumis melo L.) cultivated in closed-loop hydroponic systems under Mediterranean climatic conditions, the process of salinity build-up has to be better understood. To attain this objective, two experiments were conducted in two cropping seasons (winter–spring and spring–summer) in order to: (i) establish relationships between Na+ and Cl− concentrations in the root zone and uptake concentrations (UC) of Na+ and Cl−, respectively, i.e., Na+/water and Cl−/water uptake ratios, and (ii) test whether macronutrient UC in melon grown in closed hydroponic systems are influenced by the gradual salinity build-up. Three different NaCl concentrations in the irrigation water used to prepare nutrient solutions, i.e., 0.7, 2.5, and 5mM, were applied. The UC of Na+ and Cl− increased over time but at a certain time point in the cropping cycle they converged to a plateau corresponding to the salinity treatment. Exponential relationships between the Na+ and Cl− concentrations in the root zone and the UC of Na+ and Cl−, respectively, were fitted to experimental results in both experiments. However, parameterization of the model with data from the high-transpiration season revealed superiority. The established model parameters corresponded well over the whole melon cultivation cycle and a wide range of climatic conditions. The NaCl-salinity up to the tested level had no significant effect on the UC of macronutrients (i.e., N, P, K, Ca and Mg). The mean UC of Ca and N were higher than those reported under northern-European climatic conditions. The obtained results may be used through on-line operating decision support systems to optimize nutrient supply and minimize salinity impacts in melon grown in closed hydroponic systems when the quality of the irrigation water is sub-optimal.

Keywords: Cucumis melo; Salinity; Nutrient/water uptake; Soilless culture; Solution recirculation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:165:y:2016:i:c:p:22-32

DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2015.11.013

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