BIOMETRIC AND POSTHARVEST VARIABLES OF HYDROPONIC LETTUCE TREATED WITH LOW-FREQUENCY ELECTRICAL PULSES

Abstract

Leafy vegetables are a commercial highlight in Brazil thanks to the implementation of technologies that increase their productivity. Products that can be consumed in natura, such as lettuce, have greater commercial value. The hydroponics technique has a high level of technology, but it can still be improved. There are works and reports that indicate that the treatment of irrigation water with low-frequency electrical pulses can enhance crop productivity, to corroborate this it is necessary to develop detailed studies. In this sense, the objective of the present work is to analyze the behavior of measuring biometry and post-harvest of lettuce in a hydroponic system treated with low frequency electrical pulses. A completely randomized design was used, in a factorial scheme with 3x2x3 sub-subdivided plots, with four replications. The factors were the frequency of application of electrical pulses (constant, intermittent and unused), two levels of fertilization and three production cycles. The development of lettuce subjected to low frequency electrical pulses regardless of nutrient solution had the same behavior as untreated plants showing low influence of technology.