Hydroponic maize (Zea mays L.) forage production using chemical and organic fertilizers

Abstract

The province of Manabí occupies the first place in the meat production in Ecuador, the deficiency of food during the dry season is one of its main problems. The production of green hydroponic fodder (GHF) is proposed as an alternative solution, for which the following objectives were: i) determine the appropriate fertilizer for the hydroponic production of maize, ii) to establish the maize variety with the highest yield as GHF and iii) to define the appropriate harvest time in the exploitation of GHF. In order to develop this research, 2 mL/L of water of an inorganic fertilizer (IF) based on phosphorus was applied and 2 g/L of powdered mycorrhizal water were applied, which were tested in the varieties of white and yellow maize, With airing of 48 and 72 h respectively. The experimental design was completely randomized with factorial arrangement of 2x2x2 with eight treatments, generating 64 experimental units, considering as variables of response, weight, root size and leaf height of the GHF. The results determined higher weight of white maize with FI with 1.69 kg in trays of 40 x 50 cm and with 0.45 kg of maize per tray, at height level no statistical difference was determined and for root size, the best treatment was white corn with FI with 12.49 cm in length. It is concluded that white maize responds better to IF under hydroponic conditions, with an airing time of 48 h.

Keywords

• hydroponic
• production
• fertilizer
• inorganic
• organic
• forage.