Yield and quality of Chinese Cabbage grown on sand culture and NFT system

With a view to assessing the quantitative and qualitative response of chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa var. pekinensis), grown under different hydroponic systems, a research was conducted to study the yield and healthy characteristics of Chinese cabbage, grown on sand culture and NFT system. The study was concerned with in particular the effect of the two systems on the dynamics of nitrate uptake, transport and accumulation in plant tissues. Based on the results obtained, and relative to the prevailing local conditions, the following considerations can be made: growing this species in hydroponics system (NFT) enables higher yields (about 9 kg m-2) to be achieved as compared to sand culture. This is related to the higher mean weight of tufts (1400 g against 990 g); the harvest period, however, is prolonged by about 20 days; Chinese cabbage, grown in the greenhouse for autumn production, was found to accumulate more nitrate 810230 to 2900 mg kg-1 f.w.) in leaf blades more than in ribs (370 to 800 mg kg-1); the protein content is far higher in the tissues of plants grown in NFT (2.16% f.w.) than on sand culture (1.52% f.w.), the same as total (blades+ribs) nitrate concentration (3700 mg kg-1 f.w. against 1400 mg kg-1 f.w.)