Comparison of substrate, hydroponic and aeroponic cultivation systems for the production of carrot root

Abstract

In this study, possibilities of soilless grown carrot were investigated. Carrot roots were grown in substrate culture (cocopeat, vermiculite, perlite, rockwool), hydroponic and aeroponic. An experiment was carried out during the autumn-winter period in the Mediterranean climate. The better results in the experiment were obtained from vermiculite and cocopeat cultures in terms of carrot root growth, yield, beta-carotene, phenols, soluble solids and mineral contents of the root. However, carrot root characteristics for shape in both substrates were still under the original characteristics of the cultivar grown in soil, especially length was shorter. Perlite used in the experiment was not successful due to the heterogenic particle size. The smallest and largest perlite particles mixed together was not suitable for carrot root. The tap root may have had difficulty in penetration into the rockwool slab and growth was not good too. The carrot roots in water culture not only showed decreased growth but also showed worse quality properties with the higher ratio of split and forked roots. The aeroponic system in the experiment caused the smallest, shortest carrot roots with abundant amount of thin tails presumably due to spray interval and spray time not being suitable for carrot and plant exposed to water, nutrient and humidity deficiencies.