Chloride as a Partial Nitrate Substitute in Hydroponics: Effects on Purslane Yield and Quality
This study examined the effects of both nitrogen (N) rate and form on the growth, nutrient uptake, and quality parameters of hydroponically grown purslane (<i>Portulaca oleracea</i> L.) during a spring cultivation cycle. Purslane was cultivated in a floating hydroponic system under eithe...
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2025-07-01
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| author | George P. Spyrou Ioannis Karavidas Theodora Ntanasi Sofia Marka Evangelos Giannothanasis Gholamreza Gohari Enrica Allevato Leo Sabatino Dimitrios Savvas Georgia Ntatsi |
| author_facet | George P. Spyrou Ioannis Karavidas Theodora Ntanasi Sofia Marka Evangelos Giannothanasis Gholamreza Gohari Enrica Allevato Leo Sabatino Dimitrios Savvas Georgia Ntatsi |
| author_sort | George P. Spyrou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study examined the effects of both nitrogen (N) rate and form on the growth, nutrient uptake, and quality parameters of hydroponically grown purslane (<i>Portulaca oleracea</i> L.) during a spring cultivation cycle. Purslane was cultivated in a floating hydroponic system under either adequate or limiting N conditions. More specifically, under adequate N conditions, plants were supplied with NS where ammonium nitrogen (NH<sub>4</sub>-N) accounted for either 7% (Nr7) or 14% (Nr14) of the total-N. The limiting N conditions were achieved through the application of either an NS where 30% of N inputs were compensated with Cl (N30), or an NS where 50% of N inputs were balanced by elevating Cl and S by 30% and 20%, respectively (N50). The results demonstrated that mild N stress enhanced the quality characteristics of purslane without significant yield losses. However, further and more severe N restrictions in the NS resulted in significant yield losses without improving product quality. The highest yield reduction (20%) occurred under high NH<sub>4</sub>-N supply (Nr14), compared to Nr7-treated plants, which was strongly associated with impaired N assimilation and reduced biomass production. Both N-limiting treatments (N30 and N50) effectively reduced nitrate accumulation in edible tissues by 10% compared to plants grown under adequate N supply (Nr7 and Nr14); however, nitrate levels remained relatively high across all treatments, even though the environmental conditions of the experiment favored nitrate reduction. All applied N regimes and compensation strategies improved the antioxidant and flavonoid content, with the highest antioxidant activity observed in plants grown under high NH<sub>4</sub>-N application, indirectly revealing the susceptibility of purslane to NH<sub>4</sub>-N-rich conditions. Overall, the form and rate of N supply significantly influenced both plant performance and biochemical quality. Partial replacement of N with Cl (N30) emerged as the most promising strategy, benefiting quality traits and effectively reducing nitrate content without significantly compromising yield. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ac25876ac3b343b6aee2f5ac07764e48 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-ac25876ac3b343b6aee2f5ac07764e482025-08-20T03:07:58ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-07-011414216010.3390/plants14142160Chloride as a Partial Nitrate Substitute in Hydroponics: Effects on Purslane Yield and QualityGeorge P. Spyrou0Ioannis Karavidas1Theodora Ntanasi2Sofia Marka3Evangelos Giannothanasis4Gholamreza Gohari5Enrica Allevato6Leo Sabatino7Dimitrios Savvas8Georgia Ntatsi9Laboratory of Vegetable Production, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, GreeceLaboratory of Vegetable Production, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, GreeceLaboratory of Vegetable Production, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, GreeceLaboratory of Molecular Biology, Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, GreeceLaboratory of Vegetable Production, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Maragheh, Maragheh 83111-55181, IranDepartment of Environmental and Prevention Sciences (DiSAP), University of Ferrara, Via Borsari, 46, 44121 Ferrara, ItalyDipartimento Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Forestali, University of Palermo viale delle Scienze, Ed. 5, 90128 Palermo, ItalyLaboratory of Vegetable Production, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, GreeceLaboratory of Vegetable Production, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, GreeceThis study examined the effects of both nitrogen (N) rate and form on the growth, nutrient uptake, and quality parameters of hydroponically grown purslane (<i>Portulaca oleracea</i> L.) during a spring cultivation cycle. Purslane was cultivated in a floating hydroponic system under either adequate or limiting N conditions. More specifically, under adequate N conditions, plants were supplied with NS where ammonium nitrogen (NH<sub>4</sub>-N) accounted for either 7% (Nr7) or 14% (Nr14) of the total-N. The limiting N conditions were achieved through the application of either an NS where 30% of N inputs were compensated with Cl (N30), or an NS where 50% of N inputs were balanced by elevating Cl and S by 30% and 20%, respectively (N50). The results demonstrated that mild N stress enhanced the quality characteristics of purslane without significant yield losses. However, further and more severe N restrictions in the NS resulted in significant yield losses without improving product quality. The highest yield reduction (20%) occurred under high NH<sub>4</sub>-N supply (Nr14), compared to Nr7-treated plants, which was strongly associated with impaired N assimilation and reduced biomass production. Both N-limiting treatments (N30 and N50) effectively reduced nitrate accumulation in edible tissues by 10% compared to plants grown under adequate N supply (Nr7 and Nr14); however, nitrate levels remained relatively high across all treatments, even though the environmental conditions of the experiment favored nitrate reduction. All applied N regimes and compensation strategies improved the antioxidant and flavonoid content, with the highest antioxidant activity observed in plants grown under high NH<sub>4</sub>-N application, indirectly revealing the susceptibility of purslane to NH<sub>4</sub>-N-rich conditions. Overall, the form and rate of N supply significantly influenced both plant performance and biochemical quality. Partial replacement of N with Cl (N30) emerged as the most promising strategy, benefiting quality traits and effectively reducing nitrate content without significantly compromising yield.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/14/2160ammonium nitrogenchloridefloating systemnitrate nitrogenplant nutrition<i>Portulaca oleracea</i> L. |
| spellingShingle | George P. Spyrou Ioannis Karavidas Theodora Ntanasi Sofia Marka Evangelos Giannothanasis Gholamreza Gohari Enrica Allevato Leo Sabatino Dimitrios Savvas Georgia Ntatsi Chloride as a Partial Nitrate Substitute in Hydroponics: Effects on Purslane Yield and Quality Plants ammonium nitrogen chloride floating system nitrate nitrogen plant nutrition <i>Portulaca oleracea</i> L. |
| title | Chloride as a Partial Nitrate Substitute in Hydroponics: Effects on Purslane Yield and Quality |
| title_full | Chloride as a Partial Nitrate Substitute in Hydroponics: Effects on Purslane Yield and Quality |
| title_fullStr | Chloride as a Partial Nitrate Substitute in Hydroponics: Effects on Purslane Yield and Quality |
| title_full_unstemmed | Chloride as a Partial Nitrate Substitute in Hydroponics: Effects on Purslane Yield and Quality |
| title_short | Chloride as a Partial Nitrate Substitute in Hydroponics: Effects on Purslane Yield and Quality |
| title_sort | chloride as a partial nitrate substitute in hydroponics effects on purslane yield and quality |
| topic | ammonium nitrogen chloride floating system nitrate nitrogen plant nutrition <i>Portulaca oleracea</i> L. |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/14/2160 |
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