The effect of nutrient solution composition on development of Cichorium spinosum plants
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abstract
In the present study, the effect of nutrient solution composition on plant growth and quality of
Cichorium spinosum L. was examined. Five fertilizer treatments were applied through
irrigation water differing in the nitrate: ammonium nitrogen ratio of total nitrogen, namely (1)
100:0, (2) 75:25, (3) 50:50, (4) 25:75, 5) 0:100 NO3:NH4, while an extra treatment (6) with
total nitrogen only in urea form was applied. All the treatments received the same amount of
fertilizer units (20-20-20 mg L-1 of N, P and K, respectively). Plants were grown in 2 L pots
containing peat (Klassman-Deilmann KTS2) and harvested three times during the growing
period, and when they reached marketable size. At each harvest day, plant development was
assessed (number, fresh and dry weight of leaves, and rosette diameter). The results suggest
that nitrogen form has a significant effect on plant growth and yield of C. spinosum plants. In
particular, fresh weight and number of leaves, and rosette diameter were significantly
increased when ratio of nitrate: ammonium nitrogen was 75:25 or 0:100, especially in the 1st
harvest, while in the 3rd harvest treatment 100:0 showed the best results. However, this did not
affect total fresh weight and number of leaves which were higher for treatments 100:0 and
75:25, respectively. Therefore, higher ammonium nitrogen rates seem to be beneficial for
plant development only during the early stages, while at later growth stages nitrate nitrogen
has better results. In any case, ureic nitrogen is not suggested since it has severe effects on
plant development, probably due to toxicity issues.
