Performance on nutritive solution utilization by Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus L.) cultivated in hydroponic

Abstract

The interest in species with multiple benefits and many molecules with potential uses in different areas of knowledge has recently grown. The demand generates the search for production to meet the needs in quantity and quality. The advantages of the hydroponic system in the cultivation of leafy and aromatic herbs are known. However, the efficiency information of what would be the most responsive nutrition for aromatic species deserves attention and further studies. Thus, the objective was to evaluate the response of tarragon plants submitted to different rates of nutrient solution. The following proportions of the nutritive solution for leaves were evaluated: I - 50%, II - 75%, III - 100%, and IV 125%. Such a solution was chosen as a standard due to the balance between nutrients and the wide use by hydroponic producers. Hydroponic cultivation is a good alternative to grown Tarragon. The 100% nutrient solution shows good performance for most of the characteristics evaluated. The 15% reduction provides maximum production of the fresh mass of shoots, however, it causes a reduction of 11.3% in the production of dry mass, 6% in the number of stems, and 3.4% in height, which would not be interesting to meet dry mass demand. For fresh consumption, a 25% reduction in nutrient concentration generates a drop of only 1.3% in the maximum fresh mass of tarragon in hydroponic cultivation.