Comparative study of cultivation methods for optimizing lettuce production on household balconies

Downloads

Published

2025-09-30

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58993/ijh/2025.82.3.9

Keywords:

Lettuce, balcony farming, hydroponic, cultivation, substrate cultivation, urban agriculture
Dimensions Badge

Issue

Vol. 82 No. 03 (2025): Indian Journal of Horticulture

Section

Research Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2025 yuyan wang; aili yang; yiwei ma, jia chen, haiyan yang, zhenji wang, qingqing shen

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Authors

  • Aili Yang
  • Yiwei Ma
  • Jia Chen
  • Haiyan Yang
  • Zhenji Wang
  • Qingqing Shen
  • Huajie Yin
  • Yuyan Wang

Abstract

This study investigated cultivation methods for optimizing lettuce production on household balconies. Circulating hydroponics, static hydroponics, and substrate cultivation were compared with soil cultivation (control) to evaluate growth, yield, and quality. Hydroponic systems significantly outperformed soil cultivation. Static hydroponics produced the highest biomass, with fresh and dry weights increasing by 10.53% and 55.29% over the control. Circulating hydroponics, while slightly lower in yield, enhanced vitamin C content by 6.57% and sensory quality by 41%, ranking second overall. Substrate cultivation showed moderate improvements, with increases of 5.14% in vitamin C and 19.66% in taste rating compared to the control. Considering growth performance, space efficiency, management ease, and cost, static and circulating hydroponics were identified as the most suitable systems for balcony-based lettuce cultivation. These results provide practical guidance for urban households and support the promotion of balcony farming as a sustainable approach to urban agriculture.

How to Cite

Yang, A., Ma, Y., Chen, J., Yang, H., Wang, Z., Shen, Q., … Yuyan Wang. (2025). Comparative study of cultivation methods for optimizing lettuce production on household balconies. Indian Journal of Horticulture, 82(03), 311–316. https://doi.org/10.58993/ijh/2025.82.3.9

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

1. Cao, H., Xu, S.P., Li, X.X. and Shang, L. 2011. Soilless cultivation devices and planting techniques for balcony gardens. China Veg. 19:55-56.

2. Chen, R.L. 2016. Research on soil-less cultivation technology for container grown ‘edible and decorative’ vegetables on balconies. Grassroots Agric. Technol Ext., 4(12):115-116.

3. Chou, Y.J., Li, Q., He, J., and Yang, P.H. 2019. A comparative study on the quality of hydroponic vegetables and traditional vegetables. Grain Sci. Technol. Econ. 44(07):95-98.

4. Hu, Y., Cui, W., Jin, M.F. and Wang, Q.X. 2019. The effect of different cultivation methods on the growth and nutritional quality of lettuce. J. Shanghai Normal Univ (Nat. Sci. Ed). 48(05):566- 573.

5. Kalaivanan, D., Selvakumar, G. and Hebbar, S.S. 2020. Effects of varying n, p and k concentrations on growth, biomass, yield and nutritional quality of zucchini squash grown under open and polyhouse soilless culture. Indian J. Hortic. 77(3):496-502.

6. Ning, Y.M. 2018. The impact of different cultivation methods on vegetable quality. South. Agric. 12(26):22-23.

7. Qu, H.M., Dong, B.D., Qiao, Y.Z., Shi, C.H., Li, D.X., Liu, Y.Y. and Liu, M.Y. 2013. The effect of matrix cultivation on the growth of different vegetable varieties under slightly saline water irrigation. Agric. Res. in Arid Areas. 31 (04):11-15.

8. Shao, J.T. 2024. Specific applications of facility vegetable substrate cultivation technology. Agric. Eng. Technol. 44(09):70-71.

9. Tao, L., Zhu, H., Liu, X.C., Zhang.,W.H., Li, R. and Wang, C.Y. 2020. Design, assembly, and application of a new type of balcony hydroponic device. Agric. Eng. Technol., 40(19):76-79.

10. Tao, Z.P., Wang,Y.Y., Jia,W.. G. and Bai, Z.Y. 1996. Design and application research of hydroponic vegetable cultivation device. Northern Hortic. 2:17-18.

11. Tian, F.L. and Tian, F.D. 2023. Efficient cultivation technology for year-round supply of upright lettuce. Veg. 6:79-81.

12. Wang, L.D., Feng, Y.X., Xue, J. and Fu, Y.K. 2020. Key cultivation techniques for container vegetables on northern balconies. China Melons and Veg. 33(06):79-81.

13. Wang, R.K. 2024. Application of organic soilless cultivation technology for vegetables. Mod. Hortic. 47(10):48-50.

14. Wang, X., Wang, C.F., Liu, H.R., Bai, H.T. and Qiao, Y.J. 2023. Comparative study on the quality of hydroponic and soil-cultivated bok choy. Shanghai Acta Agric. 39(1):20-25.

15. Wang, Y.Y., Tao, Z.P., Jia, W.G., Cheng, D.W., Qin, T.S., Tian, X.S., Cheng, Y.W., Lu, Z.X. and Liu, T.B. 1995. The double-density planting of iceberg lettuce in a cyclical hydroponic system and its application effects. Northern Hortic. 4: 4-5.

16. Wu, J.C.,Zhao, M.,Li, X.L. and Peng, X.S. 2009. The effect of nutrient supply methods on the yield and quality of organic ecological soilless cultivated lettuce. Anhui Agric Bull. 15(14): 50-51.

17. Xie, Q.B. 1997. Simultaneous determination of ascorbic acid and sorbic acid in food by spectrophotometry. Anal. Chem. 25(2):247.

18. Xu, X.Y., Xu, K., Wang, Z.B. and Zhang, Y.Z. 2012. The impact of organic soil substrate cultivation on the yield of ginger and the utilization efficiency of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. China Veg. 14:59-64.

19. Zhao, J.D., Song, Y.T., He ,C., Xu, X.L., Wu, Y.N. and Li, L.L. 2020. A comparative study of different chlorophyll determination methods. J. Dalian Minzu Univ. 22(05):405-410.

20. Zhou, H.F. and Zhang,W. 2015. The impact of different soilless cultivation methods on the growth of Shanghai Qing. Yangtze River Veg. 2:36-37.

Similar Articles

<< < 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.