An experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of different organic nutrient solutions and day of harvest on growth parameters, biomass and chemical composition of hydroponically grown sorghum red fodder. The experiment was a 3 × 2 factorial design comprising of 3 nutrient solutions (cattle, poultry and rabbit) and 2 harvesting regimes (8th and 10th day). Cattle, poultry and rabbit dungs were collected fresh and processed into nutrient solutions. Sorghum red seeds were treated, planted on trays, and irrigated twice per day with organic nutrient solution according to the treatments. Growth parameters which were investigated included fodder mat thickness, seedling height, leaf length and width, number of leaves, fresh and dry matter yield; and proximate composition. The results showed that sorghum red fodder irrigated with cattle manure nutrient solution (NS) harvested at 10 days was higher in all, except one (fodder mat thickness) of the growth parameters considered. The crude protein (CP) was highest and similar (P > 0.05) for Poultry NS harvested at 8 and 10 days, and Cattle NS at 10 days (13.13%, 12.67%, and 12.69% respectively). The ash content also favored Cattle NS at 10 days. Cattle NS at 10 days harvest was significantly (P < 0.05) the highest (7.00%), but comparable (P > 0.05) with Rabbit NS at 10 days for NDF. Fresh and DM yields were highest for Cattle harvested at 10 and 8 days respectively. The study recommends Cattle NS as hydroponic organic NS for sorghum red as it enhances fresh and dry matter yields, and nutritive values.

The growing of plants hydroponically is a soilless form of growing in modern day agriculture. It helps to make feed available for animals throughout the season since it is not affected by what is faced by field grown crops. The use of animal waste, that is, their faeces, in the growth of forage was compared with commercial hydroponics solutions as a way of looking for a reduction in the cost incurred in the purchase of commercial hydroponics solutions. The study evaluated the use of organic nutrient solutions (ONS) alongside a standard/commercial nutrient solution in growing crops hydroponically on the growth, dry matter yield, water use efficiency, and chemical composition of hydroponic maize fodder. The ONS used were formulated from the dried faeces of cattle, poultry, rabbits, and swine. The prepared organic nutrient solutions with the control were used in growing the maize seeds for 10 days, and growth, yield, and chemical composition were determined. Results show the highest (196 g) dry matter yield for maize hydroponic fodder irrigated with poultry ONS. Similarly, maize irrigated with poultry ONS was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in CP content, while it was not significantly different from maize irrigated with cattle, swine, and commercial solutions. A lower water use efficiency value (0.19 kg DM/m³) was recorded for maize irrigated with cattle ONS. According to the study, irrigating maize with different organic nutrient solutions produced maize fodder with a higher yield and a similar chemical composition as the commercial nutrient solution. 

Hydroponics is a modern agricultural system that enables year-round plant growth. Biochar, derived from apple tree waste, and humic acid were investigated as a replacement for the Hoagland nutrient solution to grow strawberries in a greenhouse with three replications. Growth parameters, such as leaf area, the average number of fruits per plant, maximum fruit weight, and the weight of fresh and dry fruits, were measured. A 50% increase in fresh and dry fruit weight was observed in plants grown using biochar compared to the control. Additionally, the use of Hoagland chemical fertilizer led to a 25% increase in both fresh and dry weight. There was a 65% increase in the number of fruits per plant in the biochar-grown sample compared to the control. Moreover, biochar fertilizer caused a 100% increase in maximum fruit weight compared to the control and a 27% increase compared to the Hoagland chemical fertilizer. Biochar had a higher pH compared to the Hoagland solution, and such pH levels were conducive to strawberry plant growth. The results indicate that biochar has the potential to enhance the size and weight of fruits. The findings of the study demonstrate that biochar, when combined with humic acid, is a successful organic hydroponic fertilizer that improves the quality and quantity of strawberries. Moreover, this approach enables the more efficient utilization of garden waste.

This work aimed to evaluate the effects of using three different substrates in the semi-hydroponic culture of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) using two different nutrient solutions. A first trial was performed with a nutrient solution rich in macronutrients and micronutrients suitable for lettuce culture, and a second trial with a nutrient solution with pretreated wastewater from effluents of a cheese factory. The experimental design was in randomized blocks with three repetitions and three substrates were used: perlite, coconut fiber, and expanded clay, in both trials. The following parameters were observed: number of leaves, diameter of the cabbage, fresh and dry weight of the aerial part, chlorophyll index and mineral composition of the lettuce. For the first trial, the highest result for the number of leaves (20 leaves), fresh weight (142.0 g) and dry weight (7.2 g) of the aerial part was obtained in the plants growing on perlite. In the second trial, the highest result for the number of leaves (28 leaves), diameter of cabbage (26.7 cm), fresh weight (118.8 g) and dry weight (9.5 g) of the aerial part were achieved by the plants that were grown in coconut fiber. The nutrient solutions were analyzed after each irrigation cycle to verify the possibility of their discharge into the environment. Several parameters were analyzed: pH, conductivity, redox potential, nitrates, nitrites, ammoniacal nitrogen, chlorides, hardness, calcium, phosphates, sodium, potassium, chemical oxygen demand (COD) and magnesium. Ammoniacal nitrogen was found to be the only nutrient that can limits the discharge of nutrient solutions into the environment. It was also proven that the plants, besides obtaining the nutrients necessary for their development in the semi-hydroponic system with the nutrient solution with pre-treated residual water, also functioned as a purification system, allowing the said nutrient solution to be discharged into the environment at the end of each cycle.