Abstract
Plants are exposed to various soil-related stresses, including water scarcity, poor water quality, and limited nutrient availability, all of which can negatively affect growth and productivity. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of hydroponic cultivation compared to soil cultivation. Seeds of (Eruca sativa Mill.) were sown in both cultivation systems. The experiment was conducted using a completely randomized design (CRD) with 24 replicates per treatment. Nutrient uptake, morphological traits, and water use efficiency of Eruca sativa grown in both systems were measured. The results showed highly significant differences (P<0.001) between the treatments. Morphological traits including shoot and root length, stem diameter, and leaf area were greater under hydroponic cultivation. Additionally, water use efficiency in hydroponically grown arugula (Eruca sativa Mill.) was approximately four times higher than in soil-grown plants. These findings highlight the potential of hydroponics for improving plant growth, nutrient use, and water efficiency, and provide motivation for further research in this field.
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