Effectiveness of Water Use on The Growth of Grand Rapid Lettuce Plants (Lactuca Sativa L.) in an Artificial Light Vertical Hydroponic System

Abstract

Artificial light vertical hydroponics is the cultivation of plants without soil with artificial lighting. This system is suitable for limited land, such as urban environments. The effectiveness of water use in vertical hydroponics depends on the regulation of environmental factors such as lighting. This research aims to determine the most productive water supply in the growth of grand rapid lettuce plants using a vertical artificial light hydroponic system, observe and evaluate optimal growth of grand rapid lettuce plants, and analyze the value of water requirements for grand rapid lettuce plants. Research using experimental methods with several treatments, namely H0: Greenhouse hydroponics, H1: Hydroponics with intermittent pumps, and H2: Hydroponics with full water pumps. The parameters observed include temperature, humidity, nutrient solution, plant growth, evapotranspiration, flow rate, electrical energy consumption and water productivity. Research results: Temperature and humidity in greenhouses are higher than indoor verticals. The pH, TDS and EC of the three treatments H0, H1 and H2 did not differ much. The average flow rate for H1 treatment was 44.667 ml/second, H2 was 44.667 ml/second and H0 was 237.333 ml/second. The water requirement in treatment H1 is 11.64 liters, H2 is 19.15 liters while H0 is 26.18 liters. Electrical energy consumption in the greenhouse is 20.97 kWh, full indoor vertical (H2) is 16.17 kWh while intermittent indoor vertical (H1) is 8.08 kWh. Water productivity in treatment H1 was 20.44 kg/m3, H2 was 11.40 kg/m3, and in H0 was 0.25 kg/m3. Each treatment showed a significant effect on the number of leaves, root length, canopy area and total plant fresh weight.