Effect of AB Mix Substitution with Liquid Organic Fertilizer on N, P and K Levels in Hydroponically Grown Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.)

Abstract

This research aimed to analyze the levels of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) plant tissue cultivated using a wick hydroponic system, using two types of AB Mix nutrients (Goodplant and Meroke) substituted with Fortune liquid organic fertilizer (LOF) in various proportions. The research evaluated the effect of substitution on plant macronutrient content and compared the effectiveness of the two types of AB Mix. The research was conducted by analyzing lettuce plant tissue cultivated hydroponically using two types of AB Mix (Goodplant and Meroke) and the proportions of LOF substitution (0%, 25%, 50%, and 75%). The results of the research showed that partial substitution of AB Mix with LOF affected the N, P, and K content of plant tissue. In general, the highest levels of N, P, and K were obtained in the treatment without LOF substitution, indicating that AB Mix remains the primary source of macronutrients for lettuce plants. The proportion of AB Mix substitution LOF affected the macronutrient content of plants. Increasing the proportion of LOF tended to decrease the N and P levels, while the K levels showed fluctuations. This indicates that LOF has an unbalanced nutrient content to fully replace AB Mix as the primary nutrient source in hydroponic systems. A comparison between the two types of AB Mix showed that Goodplant produced relatively higher levels of N and K in plant tissue than Meroke, while the P levels tended to be balanced between the two.