Title:

Optimizing Hydroponic Lettuce Growth Through Root-Zone Oxygenation and pH Management

Hydroponic lettuce production is becoming increasingly popular due to its year-round production, high crop quality, yield, and resource-use efficiency. In this study, a deep-water culture hydroponic system with four pH levels (6, 7, 8, and unbuffered) and three root-zone oxygen conditions (aeration, non-aeration, and recirculation) was tested to determine their effects on lettuce production. Results show that pH 7 with aeration produces the highest marketable head mass of 135.56 g plant-1 (15.4% higher than control). This research is expected to provide guidelines for optimizing pH and oxygen management strategies for hydroponic lettuce growers in cold-climate regions such as New Hampshire.

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