Additive Effects of Coco-water on Fermented Plant Juice (FPJ) Extracts Influencing the Growth and Yield of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) Grown under Hydroponics System

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is the most demanded vegetable for salad. In hydroponics, cost of production is very expensive because of the higher cost incurred from commercial nutrient solution (CNS). Thus, this study employed an alternative for CNS which is organic nutrient solution with the additives of coco-water and was conducted to determine the influence of coco-water, types of nutrient solution and its interaction effect on the growth and yield of lettuce and to determine the economic analysis coco-water as an additive. The experiment was laid-out by 2×9 split-plot factorial arranged in RCBD with three replications. The addition of coco-water had significantly increased the length and diameter of leaves; plant height; percent foliage N and K content; length, fresh and oven-dry weight of roots; and yield relative to without coco-water addition. The types of hydroponic solution had influenced all the growth and yield parameters in which CNS had predominantly increased the number, length, and diameter of leaves; plant height; percent foliage of N, P and K content; length, fresh and oven-dry weight of roots; and yield of lettuce relative to FPJ extracts and coco-water alone application. Significant interaction effect was obtained between coco-water and types of nutrient solution. Addition of coco-water had significantly increased the percent foliage P and K; fresh and oven-dry weight of roots; and yield relative to without the addition coco-water which was observed greatly in CNS. Application of coco-water as hydroponics nutrient solution and as an additive to hydroponics solution was financially viable which has positive net present value and higher percentage of internal rate of return (IRR).

Keywords: Coco-water, hydroponics, commercial nutrient solution, fermented plant juice extracts (FPJ)