ISHS Acta Horticulturae 511: XXV International Horticultural Congress, Part 1: Culture Techniques with Special Emphasis on Environmental Implications - Nutrient Management
GROWING AUSTRALIAN NATIVE EDIBLE PLANTS USING HYDROPONIC TECHNIQUES |
| Authors: | A.K. Ahmed, K.A. Johnson |
| Keywords: | Tetragonia tetragonioides, ammonium nitrogen, Australian native plants, edible plants, hydroponics, nitrate nitrogen, oxalate, Warrigal Greens |
| Abstract:
Most growers of Australian native edible plants (also known as bushfood plants) use soil cultivation rather than hydroponic techniques. Six bushfood species were trialled in hydroponic systems. Most of these were too slow growing for commercial success. One of these, Warrigal Greens (Tetragonia tetragonioides) is well suited to commercial hydroponic production. It is a green leafy vegetable, also known as native spinach. There is oxalate present in the edible leaves of Warrigal Greens. This is currently removed by blanching in boiling water before eating. The effect of the ratio of nitrate nitrogen to ammonium nitrogen in the nutrient supply on the yield and oxalate content of Warrigal Greens was investigated. Five nutrient solution treatments were used, containing varying percentages of nitrate nitrogen to ammonium nitrogen as follows - 100%:0%, 97%:3%, 80%:20%, 50%:50% and 0%:100%. The ratio of nitrate nitrogen to ammonium nitrogen had no significant effect on most plant growth measurements. Both nitrogen ratio and time had significant effects on oxalate concentration at the 0.01 level, with lowest concentrations in older plants (6.3%) and those in the 50%NO3-N:50%NH4-N and 0%NO3-N: 100%NH4-N solutions (6.5%). | |
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