Response of Zucchini to the Electrical Conductivity of the Nutrient Solution in Hydroponic Cultivation

The effect of two levels of electrical conductivity (EC) at 2.2 dS/m-1 and 4.4 dS/m-1 in two nutrient solutions was studied in a hydroponic culture of zucchini Cucurbita pepo var. Abodanza, during the growing period in a heated glasshouse. The experimental premises consisted of 8 double sloping benches (10x 0.4 x 0.6 m), which were by two equipped for the collection of the runoff with a calibrated 100 L tank. The system of the water fertilization was fully automated and the hydroponic system was renewed every 1 hour daily. In order to study the impact of the EC over the hydroponic cultivation of zucchini, two interventions were conducted with a fully randomized design of 14 replicates. The environmental parameters controlled with sensors during the hydroponic cultivation had the following values: Temperature: (08:00) 19.6 oC, (14:00 h) 27 oC. The assessment of the impact of the EC during the growing period in hydroponic cultivation was conducted every second day from the 33th day after the zucchinis were transplanted into the hydroponic system and until and until 68th day after transplanting.The weight of the fresh and dry fruit of the fruit's stalk did not statistically differ in the hydroponic sub-layer in any treatment. The mean value of the total soluble solid components of the fruits is significantly different in the two conductivity levels, that is in the conductivity of 2.2 dS/m-1 it was 5.19 0Brix and in 4.4 dS/m-1 it was 5.48 0Brix. The female flowers were fewer than the male flower. The number of male and female flowers of the zucchini in both conductivity levels was 7,52(male) and 4,01(female) in 2.2 dS/m and 7,50 (male) and 4,30 (female) in 4.4 dS/m EC, respectively. The length and the diameters of the zucchini fruits and of fruits stalk did not differ in the two the levels of electrical conductivity