Abstract
Vertical farming systems offer an efficient solution for sustainable food production in urban areas. However, managing nitrate (NO3−) levels remains a significant challenge for improving crop yield, quality, and safety. This study evaluated the effects of nitrate availability on growth performance, nutrient uptake, and water use efficiency in a vertical hydroponic system that intercropped lettuce (Lactuca sativa) with alfalfa (Medicago sativa). The experiment was conducted in a controlled vertical hydroponic system using Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) channels, with nitrogen levels set at 0, 33, 66, 100, and 133% of the standard concentration. The results indicated that the intercropping treatment with 66% nitrate (IC-N66%) improved water use efficiency by 38% and slightly increased leaf area compared to the other intercropping treatments. However, the control group, which consisted of a monoculture with full nitrate supply, achieved the highest overall biomass. Ion concentrations, including nitrate, calcium, magnesium, and micronutrients, were moderately affected by the intercropping strategy and nitrate levels. These findings suggest that moderate nitrate input, combined with nitrogen-fixing legumes, can enhance resource efficiency in hydroponic systems without significantly compromising yield. These findings offer a promising framework for incorporating legumes into hydroponic systems, minimizing the need for synthetic inputs while maintaining yield. These results support the use of agroecological intensification strategies in highly efficient soilless systems.
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Claims 5
Claim · model-written summary
Intercropping at 66% nitrate improved water use efficiency by 38% versus other intercropping treatments.
- Taxon
- Lettuce
Lactuca sativat0 - Treatment
- intercropping treatment with 66% nitrate (IC-N66%)e0
- Outcome
- water use efficiencye0
- Direction
- improvede0
- Value
- 38%e0
- Comparator
- other intercropping treatmentse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the intercropping treatment with 66% nitrate (IC-N66%) improved water use efficiency by 38% and slightly increased leaf area compared to the other intercropping treatments.”
t0“Lettuce with Alfalfa”
Claim · model-written summary
Intercropping at 66% nitrate slightly increased leaf area.
- Taxon
- LettuceLactuca sativat0
- Treatment
- intercropping treatment with 66% nitrate (IC-N66%)e0
- Outcome
- leaf areae0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Qualifier
- slightlye0
- Comparator
- other intercropping treatmentse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the intercropping treatment with 66% nitrate (IC-N66%) improved water use efficiency by 38% and slightly increased leaf area compared to the other intercropping treatments.”
t0“Lettuce with Alfalfa”
Claim · model-written summary
Full nitrate monoculture had highest overall biomass.
- Taxon
- LettuceLactuca sativat0
- Treatment
- monoculture with full nitrate supplye0
- Outcome
- overall biomasse0
- Direction
- higheste0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the control group, which consisted of a monoculture with full nitrate supply, achieved the highest overall biomass.”
t0“Lettuce with Alfalfa”
Claim · model-written summary
Intercropping and nitrate levels moderately affected ion concentrations.
- Taxon
- LettuceLactuca sativat0
- Treatment
- intercropping strategy and nitrate levelse0
- Outcome
- Ion concentrationse0
Not reportedComparatorDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Ion concentrations, including nitrate, calcium, magnesium, and micronutrients, were moderately affected by the intercropping strategy and nitrate levels.”
t0“Lettuce with Alfalfa”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors suggest moderate nitrate input with legumes can improve resource efficiency without significantly compromising yield.
- Taxon
- LettuceLactuca sativat0
- Outcome
- resource efficiency in hydroponic systemse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“moderate nitrate input, combined with nitrogen-fixing legumes, can enhance resource efficiency in hydroponic systems without significantly compromising yield.”
t0“Lettuce with Alfalfa”
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Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.