Responses of Leaf Celery to Floating Culture System with Different Depths of Water-substrate Interface and NPK-fertilizer Application

Abstract

Wetland areas in Indonesia cover more than 33,3 million hectares, and slightly less than 40 % is inland swamp. During the rainy season, for up to 9 months annually, the wetlands are flooded, and no conventional agricultural activities can be done by local farmers. However, this condition can be seen as an opportunity to employ floating culture system. The objective of this research was to evaluate responses of leaf celery to floating culture system with different depths of water-substrate interface and NPK-fertilizer application. The results of this study indicated that the depth of water-substrate interface (WSI) should be maintained between 1 to 3 cm. At less than 1 cm, continuous contact between the water surface and the bottom part of the substrate cannot be ensured; meanwhile, aerobic substrate volume was reduced and caused significant effects on growth and yield in celery plants if WSI was deeper than 3 cm. Moreover, the effectiveness of NPK-fertilizer application was weakened if the depth of WSI was at 6 cm. Fresh leaf yield in celery plants harvested at 45 days after transplanting (DAT) can be predicted as early as 3 weeks earlier using the midrib length of the largest leaf or plant height as a predictor measured at 26 DAT.
 HIGHLIGHTS
 
 Depth of water-substrate interface (WSI) should be maintained between 1 to 3 cm for better growth and higher yield in floating culture system
 Effects of NPK fertilizer application diminished if WSI deeper than 3 cm
 Yield of celery harvested at 45 days after transplanting can be predicted as earlier as 3 weeks using midrib length of the largest leaf or plant height as predictor
 
 GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Searching for Suitable Cultivation System of Swiss Chard (Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla (L.) W.D.J.Koch) in the Tropical Lowland

“…This difference was likely related to the thickness of the WSSLs, i.e., the depth of the bottom substrate whose pores are saturated with water. The thick WSSL (5 cm) as in the BWC negatively affected the root weight and the fruit yield of the 'Green Apple' eggplant (Jaya et al 2019) and the overall growth of the leaf celery (Jaya et al 2020(Jaya et al , 2021.…”

“…The substrate surface absorbs sunlight energy, thereby increasing the substrate temperature, triggering evaporation, and decreasing soil moisture (Dincă et al 2018). The advantage of floating and BWC was that the water supply by the capillarity force took place continuously so that the moisture of the growth substrate could be maintained (Jaya et al 2021), as long as the direct contact between the substrate and the water surface was not interrupted (Kartika et al 2021).…”

Shallot cultivation in tropical climate ecosystems using floating and non-floating systems with different doses of cow manure

“…Additionally, when it rains heavily, the media become more watersaturat ed, which lowers the amount of accessible oxygen. Oxygen is needed by the roots for respiration and for maintaining healthy cell function (Neira et al, 2015;Ernest, 2018;Jaya et al, 2021;Kartika et al, 2021). Damage to the root will eventually affect the upper plant growth, as seen from the agronomical features.…”

Growth of Red Amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus L.) Cultivated on Soil-Based Substrate Amended with a Residue of the Black Soldier Fly Larvae Containing Heavy Metals

“…The growth and yields of red amaranth performed better on an application rate of 10% BSF residue than control or higher application rates in floating culture or conventional culture systems (Jaya et al 2019(Jaya et al , 2021Kartika et al 2021;. The 10% rate is appropriate for BSF residue because it contains high nutrients (both macro and micro) and high organic matter.…”