Electrical conductivity of complete and commercial nutrient solutions in tube-based passion fruit seedling production

Abstract

Fertigation is widely used in seedling production for different crops, including passion fruit. There is no consensus on the ideal nutrient solution, and as such, nurseries have used fertigation empirically. This study assessed the electrical conductivity of nutrient solution containing macro and micronutrients in passion fruit seedling production and compared it with commercially used fertigation. A completely randomized design was used, with five treatments and six repetitions. Four electrical conductivities (0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 dS m-1) of a complete nutrient solution and an additional treatment (commercial nutrient solution) were analyzed. Daily fertigation with a complete nutrient solution (macro and micronutrients) at electrical conductivities between 2.6 and 3.3 dS m-1 followed by two daily irrigations are efficient at producing FB 300 “Araguari” passion fruit seedlings in coconut fiber substrate, with benefits such as greater biomass and better Dickson quality index when compared to commercial nutrient solution.