YIELD AND QUALITY OF CHINESE CABBAGE GROWN ON SAND CULTURE AND NFT SYSTEM

Based on the results obtained, and relative to the prevailing local conditions, the following considerations can be made:

• growing this species in hydroponic 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 (1,400 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 (1030 to 2,900 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 (3,700 mg kg^-1 f.w. against 1,400 mg kg^-1 f.w.).

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