Air and Water Temperature Effects on Growth of Lettuce in a Hydroponic System
This research explored cool crop production in various climate zones using CEA facilities and hydroponics ponds to control growth rate and quality through root zone temperature control. The precise controls were used to vary air and water temperatures to study the temperature gradient between root and shoot zones. Effect of this gradient was measured by growth rates and final harvest dry weights. Lactuca sativa L. cv. Ostinata seedlings were germinated and grown 11 days in a growth chamber and moved to greenhouse ponds. Air temperatures chosen were 17, 24, and 31°C. These were constant for the 24 days that lettuce grew in the ponds with a 5°C decrease for 14 hours. during the night. Water temperatures of the three ponds in the greenhouse were set and maintained at 17, 24, and 31°C. Maximum final harvest weights were obtained at 24°C air/water 24°C. Final weights for the 17 and 31°C water setpoint were comparable at 24°C air. The 31 °C air /water inhibited quality and final dry weight, while 17 and 24°C water produced equivalent dry weights at 31°C air. At 31°C air heads were tighter at 17 than at 24°C, and loose at 31°C. At air 17 °C maximum weight was at 24°C water and minimum at 31°C water. At 17°C air, the 24°C water plants were of good quality, with thicker leaves but visibly smaller than the 31°C water crop. Significant differences in harvest dry weights were shown at each 7-day harvest beginning on day 14, due to both air and water setpoint factors and there was significant interaction between them.