Rocket plants in response to nitrogen concentration in nutrient solution

Nitrogen (N) is the second most accumulated nutrient in rocket. This nutrient greatly affects growth, productivity and quality of the vegetable. Rocket is the second most widely grown leafy vegetable in hydroponic system; however, no studies on how N concentration in nutrient solution affects this crop can be found in literature. We studied four concentrations (79.2; 118.8; 158.4 and 237.6 mg L-1 of N) in a randomized block design with five replicates. Maximum number of leaves, leaf area, dry mass and productivity of rocket cv. 'Folha larga' were obtained with the highest N concentration. The rocket quality, evaluated by the nitrate content, was maximum with 210.2 mg L-1 of N and its value in the concentration which maximized productivity is in the acceptable range for vegetables; so, it is recommended to grow rocket with 237.6 mg L-1 of N in the nutrient solution.

Automated summary

The study investigated the effects of nitrogen concentration on rocket vegetable growth and quality, finding that the highest nitrogen concentration led to the maximum number of leaves, leaf area, dry mass, and productivity. Additionally, the nitrate content, which indicates rocket quality, was highest at 210.2 mg L-1 of nitrogen. It is recommended to grow rocket with 237.6 mg L-1 of nitrogen in the nutrient solution for optimal results.