Production of highbush blueberry in hydroponic system with nutrient film technique ( NFT ) and optimization of growing conditions

This study is based on the optimisation of the production and growing conditions of blueberry, which was cultivated in 1905- with hydroponic (soilless) system encouraged by the state in Turkey, foreseeing the potential of adaptation especially within the Black Sea region climate. The study was carried out between February 2015 and September 2015 in the biotechnological sera belonging to Yıldız Technical University, Faculty of Chemical and Metallurgy, Bioengineering Department. In the study, bluecrop from Vaccinium corymbosum family was preferred as a vegetable material. NFT (Nutrient Film Tecnique), one of the hydroponic systems of soilless agriculture, was used to grow blueberries. For hydroponic system, 40 pans of 4 m length, pump, 1 tank of 8 tons capacity were used. 95 blueberries were planted with an average of 1.5 m gaps and fixed with Styrofoam. As nutrient solution; Ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) 437.5 ppm, calcium nitrate (Ca(NO3)2. 4H2O) 962.5 ppm, potassium nitrate (KNO3) 210 ppm Magnesium Sulfate (MgSO4.7H2O) 437.5 ppm, monopotassium phosphate (KH2PO4) 262.5 ppm ferrous sulfate (FeSO4.7H2O) 6.75 ppm, manganese sulfate (MnSO4) 5.875 BORAX (Na2B4O7.10H2O) 9 ppm, Copper (II) sulfate (CuSO4) 8.75 ppm, Zinc Sulfate (ZnSO4) 11.25 ppm, cobalt sulfate (CoSO4) 7.5 ppm was used. The pH of the salt solution was adjusted to about 4.5 with sulfuric acid (H2SO4). Considering that the chlorosis formed in the leaves may be due to the deficiency of Mg, Ca and K, the nutrient solution; An increase of 20% with 1155 ppm calcium nitrate, 10% potassium nitrate by 231 ppm increase, with an increase of 10% of monopotassium phosphate was changed to 288.75 ppm. The pH value of the nutrient solution in these values was 3. The pH was raised using base (NaOH). Since the optimum pH range was 4.5-5.0 for blueberry plantation, the pH was constantly kept at 4.5-5.0 by acid or base addition. 1 l of nutrient solution prepared as stock was added to the tank filled with 0.5 ton of water per day. During the research period, plant lengths, leaf colour, number of leaves, number of fruits were followed on 10 blueberries which selected randomly. In order to protect the plants from high temperatures, the greenhouse ceiling was drained and the greenhouse ambient temperature was lowered to provide shade for the plant. The lengths of the blueberry seedlings planted grow an average of 9 cm in 5 months. This growth was observed between the 1st half of April and the 2nd half of July. While fruit intake is not possible in traditional farming less than two years, fruit was taken in hydroponic greenhouse at the end of 5 months. First Blueberries were received in August. The average fruit weight was 2-3 g.