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. 2024 Jan 18;14(1):1616.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-51818-w.

Utilizing the power of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria on reducing mineral fertilizer, improved yield, and nutritional quality of Batavia lettuce in a floating culture

Boran Ikiz  1 , Hayriye Yildiz Dasgan  2 , Nazim S Gruda  3
Affiliations

Utilizing the power of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria on reducing mineral fertilizer, improved yield, and nutritional quality of Batavia lettuce in a floating culture

Boran Ikiz et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

In soilless cultivation, plants are grown with nutrient solutions prepared with mineral nutrients. Beneficial microorganisms are very important in plant nutrition. However, they are not present in soilless culture systems. In this study we investigated the impact of introducing Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) as an alternative to traditional mineral fertilizer in hydroponic floating lettuce cultivation. By reducing mineral fertilizers at various ratios (20%, 40%, 60%, and 80%), and replacing them with PGPR, we observed remarkable improvements in multiple growth parameters. Applying PGPR led to significant enhancements in plant weight, leaf number, leaf area, leaf dry matter, chlorophyll content, yield, and nutrient uptake in soilles grown lettuce. Combining 80% mineral fertilizers with PGPR demonstrated a lettuce yield that did not significantly differ from the control treatment with 100% mineral fertilizers. Moreover, PGPR application improved the essential mineral concentrations and enhanced human nutritional quality, including higher levels of phenols, flavonoids, vitamin C, and total soluble solids. PGPR has potential as a sustainable substitute for synthetic mineral fertilizers in hydroponic floating lettuce cultivation, leading to environmentally friendly and nutritionally enriched farming.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The layout of the experiment in the greenhouse; growing lettuce in floating culture with PGPR using reduced mineral fertilizer.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Effects of the PGPR on lettuce yield under the reduced mineral fertilizer levels. MF Mineral fertilizer, PGPR Plant growth promoting Rhizobacteria. There is no significant difference between means with the same letter in the same histogram (p < 0.05)
Figure 3
Figure 3
Effects of PGPR on hydroponically grown lettuce nitrate content under the reduced mineral fertilizers. MF Mineral fertilizer, PGPR Plant growth promoting Rhizobacteria. There is no significant difference between means with the same letter in the same histogram (p < 0.05).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Effects of PGPR on total phenols, total flavonoids, vitamin C, TSS, EC and pH of lettuce. MF Mineral fertilizer, PGPR Plant growth promoting Rhizobacteria. There is no significant difference between means with the same letter in the same histogram (p < 0.05).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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