Effect of different hydroponic systems on growth and yield of celery (Apium graveolens L.)

Abstract

A study was conducted in the rabi season of 2024-25 at the Instructional-cum-Research Farm, Horticulture Section, Rajarshee Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj College of Agriculture, Kolhapur, to compare the growth and yield performance of celery under nine cultivation systems: Ebb & Flow, NFT (vertical, slanting, horizontal), Wick, Deep Water Culture, Drip & Drain, Coco slabs, and soil pot cultivation (control). Treatments were laid out in a Completely Randomized Design with three replications, and growth parameters (plant height, stalk length, number of stalks per plant and root length,) and yield (basal thickness, plant spread, yield per plant and yield per square meter) were measured. The Wick method (T₃) exhibited the highest values for plant height (52.21 cm), root length (37.40 cm), stalk length (24.59 cm), number of stalks per plant (8.60), basal thickness (1.81 cm), plant spread (58.00 cm), and yield per plant (75.04 g). Deep Water Culture (T₄) produced the maximum yield per square meter (2648.59 g/m2), followed by Ebb & Flow (1964.56 g/m2) and Wick (1810.83 g/m2). In contrast, soil pot cultivation (control) showed significantly lower performance in all growth and yield measures. These results demonstrate that hydroponic systems, especially Wick, Deep Water Culture and Ebb & Flow, can substantially improve celery growth and yield compared to conventional soil cultivation.