Hydroponic forage production of corn (Zea mays L.) under natural conditions of light deficiency.

In order to evaluate the nutritive solution and cultivation methods in Corn ( Zea mays L.), an experiment was carried out in Trujillo state, Venezuela. hydroponic production under natural poor lighting conditions was examined using a completely randomized block design with factorial arrangement 2 (nutritive solutions prepared with commercial liquid fertilizer: Nitrofoska® (A) and Quimifol® (B) x 3 (cultivation methods: absorbent paper (P), mesh (M), mesh with absorbent paper (MP) with six treatments and ten replicates. After the pre-germination stage 0,13 m2 plastic trays were used with 0,2 kg of seed equivalent. Yield, height, amount of absorbed solution (CS), dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) percentage were measured. Significant interaction nutritive solution x culture method for CP level was observed (P <0,05). Using P and MP (772 g/tray) and solution A (754 g/tray) the highest yield was obtained. No significant statistical differences in height (30,27 cm) with the method and CS among treatments were observed (1377,0-1462,5 ml). The MS percentage showed little variation among treatments (16,30 -18,20). Using P method with B solution (18,13%) significant CP concentration was observed. Under natural poor lighting conditions, the P method of cultivation was more efficient for yield and CP concentration. Solution A was found to be the most appropriate according to the yield and height results.