Dose-optimized Vermicompost Mitigates Salt Stress by Enhancing Yield and Ionic Balance in Floating Hydroponic Lettuce
HortTechnology, cilt.36, sa.5, ss.851-861, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 36 Sayı: 5
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.21273/horttech05947-26
- Dergi Adı: HortTechnology
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, BIOSIS, Directory of Open Access Journals, Natural Science Collection (ProQuest), Biological Science Database (ProQuest)
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.851-861
- Anahtar Kelimeler: biostimulants, Lactuca sativa L. var. crispa, lettuce quality, salinity, soilless culture
- Çukurova Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Salinity is a major constraint in soilless vegetable production, particularly in hydroponic systems in which the use of marginal water resources is increasingly common. Thus, the dose-dependent effects of liquid vermicompost on growth, yield, physiological performance were evaluated, along with the ionic balance of lettuce cultivated in a floating hydroponic system under 50 mM sodium chloride stress. A greenhouse experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design with three replications, and liquid vermicompost was applied at 0.5, 0.75, and 1.0 mL·L–1 under saline conditions. Salinity reduced lettuce yield by 32% compared with the nonsaline control. Vermicompost application alleviated this reduction significantly, increasing yield by 45.7%, 47.7%, and 46.2% at 0.5, 0.75, and 1.0 mL·L–1, respectively, relative to the salinity treatment. The 0.75-mL·L–1 dose produced the highest yield, and improved leaf area markedly along with stomatal conductance, with increases of up to 182% compared with salt-stressed plants. Vermicompost also enhanced antioxidant compounds and reduced nitrate accumulation. Ionic analysis revealed that the highest vermicompost dose enhanced potassium accumulation and improved the potassium-to-sodium ratio, primarily through a reduction in sodium accumulation. Taken together, these results suggest that liquid vermicompost mitigates salt stress in floating hydroponic lettuce in a dose-dependent manner. The 0.75-mL·L–1 treatment was the most suitable for sustaining yield, physiological performance, and antioxidant-related quality attributes, whereas the 1.0 mL·L–1 dose was more effective in improving ionic homeostasis by limiting sodium accumulation and promoting potassium uptake.