Fertigation in Vegetables

Hydroponics is cultivating crops in nutrient solution or media without soil. There are several advantages to hydroponic culture. Some of the problems associated with conventional soil culture such as poor soil structure, poor drainage, salinity, lack of fertile soil and water shortage, as well as weeds and soilborne pathogens, are eliminated. With hydroponics, there is no need for soil, and only about one twenty-fifth as much water is needed as in conventional farming. In areas where fresh water is not available as the desert regions the hydroponics may be the only system that can be used to grow successfully vegetable crops. So, the desert regions of the world may be such places, where hydroponics has important application. There are many classifications for hydroponic system. In the present study, the closed and open systems were used. The tested substrates were perlite, sand, perlite + peat (4: I. v/v), sand + peat (4: I. v/v) and sand+ peat + perlite (3:1:1, v/v/v). The current study was conducted with lettuce, Lactuca sativa. The total yield was higher with the closed systems compared with open ones. Perlite and peat mixture gave the highest yields among the tested substrates. The highest nutrient consumptions were obtained from perlite + peat (4: I. v/v). Also, the results obtained indicated that in the closed system could save both water and nutrient consumption.

An experiment was conducted at Horticultural Farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh during
the period from October 2006 to December 2006 to study the effect of different levels of cow dung manure on growth
and yield of radish. Four levels of cow dung manure viz. M1= control (no organic manure), M2 = cow dung manure (40
t ha-1), M3 = vermicompost (20 t ha-1) and M4 = poultry manure (25 t ha-1) were used in the experiment. The experiment
was conducted in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with six replications. The maximum values of plants
height (59.97 cm), number of leaves per plant (21.67), leaf size (37.26 cm long & 9.69 cm width), leaves weight per plant
(151.81 g), leaves yield (13.36 t ha-1), root size (22.76cm long and 5.72cm in diameter), individual root weight (349.75
g), root yield (31.07 t ha-1), dry matter (11.03 g in leaves and 14.10g in root) were found in poultry manure application
at 75 DAS. On the other hand, the minimum plant height (39.12cm), number of leaves per plant (13.01), leaf size (29.11
cm long & 7.19 cm width), leaves weight per plant (62.78 g), leaves yield (5.33 t ha-1), root size (10.02 cm long and
3.30cm in diameter), individual root weight (74.11 g), root yield (6.46 t ha-1), dry matter (4.38 g in leaves and 3.52 g in
root) were recorded from control treatment at 45 DAS.

The experiment was conducted to study the effect of integrated nutrient management on growth and yield of cabbage at research farm, Department of Horticulture, Udai Pratap Autonomous College, Varanasi (U.P.) during Rabi season of 2016-17. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design (RBD) with nine treatments replicated thrice. The treatment comprised of different levels of NPK, farmyard manure (FYM), vermicompost, phosphorus solubilizing mycorrhiza and Azospirillum. The results revealed that the application of different levels of fertilizers, in combination with organic manures and bio-fertilizers significantly increased the growth and yield of cabbage. The number of non-wrapped leaves (14.46), weight of non-wrapped leaves plant-1 (644.53 g), days taken to maturity (75.53), head size index (351.53 cm 2), head weight (1207.86 g) and yield per hectare (447.69 q ha-1) were recorded with the combined application of half dose of NPK+ vermicompost @ 2.5 t + Azospirillum @ 5 kg + phosphorus solubilizing mycorrhiza @ 5 kg ha-1 .from the study it was concluded that the application of vermicompost or FYM + Azospirillum+ phosphorus solubilizing mycorrhiza along with NPK was recommended for higher cabbage crop yield.

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. cv. Delta Star F1) plants were grown in 34 litre white plastic containers filled with sand at different levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium under a typical plastic-covered greenhouse. The experiment was carried out in the Protected Cultivation Experimental Site at Dokki, Giza during two successive seasons of 2002/2003 and 2003/2004. The objective of this study was to determine cucumber response and nutrient uptake under different treatments. Twenty seven combinations of nitrogen [90 (N1), 180 (N2) and 270 (N3) mg/l]; phosphorus [15 (P1), 35 (P2) and 70 (P3) mg/l] and potassium [120 (K1), 240 (K2) and 360 (K3) mg/l] were applied in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Plant leaf samples (4th mature leaf from top) were removed in order to analyze nutrient concentration. Harvesting started after four weeks from transplanting and the total yield was accumulated every two weeks in order to find out the relationship between yield from one hand and N, P and K status from the other hand. The results showed that plant height, leaves area, stem diameter and chlorophyll content were increased with increasing nitrogen concentration in the nutrient solution accompanied with (P2K2), (P2K3), (P3K2) or (P3K3). The lowest early and total yields were obtained in N1 accompanied with different combinations of P and K. Meanwhile, N2 gave the highest early yield under different combinations with P and K but without significant differences with N3 treatments up till the 2nd week after beginning of harvest; N3 gave significantly the highest total yield followed by N2 accompanied with (P2K2), (P2K3), (P3K2) and (P3K3) in comparison with both N2 and N3 treatments with either P1, K1 or both of them. Plant analysis revealed that low concentrations of N, P or K in the 4th leaf were proportional to low vegetative growth parameters and total yields.

An Abstract-Fertilizers application plays an important in the production of fruits and vegetables. Over-application of fertilizers can slow down the growth and development of fruits and vegetables. The present research work was carried out to check the yield and growth rate of carrot in open field by using drip irrigation along with the application of different rates of poly-feed water soluble NPK (20-20-20) fertilizer. The field study was carried out on randomized complete block design (RCBD) having four different rates of poly-feed water soluble NPK fertilizer, i.e. (T 0 = control, T 1 = 0.7 grams per plant fertigation-1 , T 2 = 1 grams per plant fertigation-1 , and T 3 = 1.4 grams per plant fertigation-1) respectively. All the data analysis and statistical analysis for agronomic parameters were done through ANOVA procedure accordingly. The outcome of the conducted research tantamount that the poly-feed water soluble NPK (20-20-20) fertilizers application with different rates brought a positive effect in carrots cultivation under the open field arrangements. Amongst different treatments rates of NPK, treatment T 3 was observed to be more suitable and economical dose as it took the tallest carrot plants (44.67cm), highest number of leaves (5.52), highest leaf length (44.38 cm), the highest root core diameter (1.76 cm), maximum root shoulder diameter (5.09 cm), highest root length (19.11 cm) and highest root yield (11.07 t/ha) respectively. However, control plots showed unsatisfactory results regarding all the parameters. Therefore, from the current study it may be concluded that application of NPK (20-20-20) (treatment T 3 = 1.4 grams / plant fertigation-1 were suitable for optimum growth and yield of carrot. Application of fertilizers beyond this level seems to be an uneconomical and wasteful practice. Statistical analyses of all the research parameters are elaborated in Table I.

I am soliciting the chapters on all aspects of Horticultural Science (fruit, vegetable, flower, spices, medicinal and aromatic plants, mushroom, gardening, etc) to included in the book series Innovations in Horticultural Science being published from AAP-CRC Press, USA. Kindly see the attached PDF.

Thank You

This study aims to assess the impact of four types of organic amendments on soil fertility and pepper crop (Capsicum annuum, L.) cv. starter and chargui under greenhouse. Six treatments have been proposed: cattle manure (T1) 55 t.ha-1, commercial compost of German origin (T2) 1 t.ha-1, mixture of 27.5 t.ha-1 of T1 + 0.5 t.ha-1 of T2 (T3), commercial compost of French origin (T4) 2 t.ha-1, Tunisian commercial compost (T5) 10 t.ha-1, and a control (T0) without amendment. Soil pH has remained alkaline with a slight downward trend. The composts T2 and T4 produced a significant increase in EC compared to control and showed the lowest CEC. Organic amendments contribute in a significant improvement of the OM content of the soil, nitrogen, phosphorus and exchangeable potassium levels compared to control. For the starter cv. composts T4 and T2 have achieved the yield of 9.5 and 9.4 kg. m-2 with increases of 16% and 15% compared to control. For cv. Chargui all treatments had a significant eff...

Rao, K.V. Ramana, Saxena, C. K. (2014). Advances in Micro Irrigation Systems and Fertigation under Covered and Open Cultivation, ICAR - Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering Bhopal 462 038 (India), Manual No: CIAE/IDED/2014/441, p 333.

Preface The global society has to increase food production to feed the ever increasing population as well as to manage available water to produce enough food and fiber to meet future targets. On the other hand, Indian agriculture is beset with several challenges. Drudgery, natural uncertainties, low productivities, low profitability, climate change, and low professional esteem are all driving the cultivators away from agriculture. Absolute scarcity and the tempo-spatial variability in water availability necessitate technological, institutional and policy interventions for equitable and sustainable use of water. Modern micro-irrigation and precision irrigation is one of the technological interventions in agriculture that has substantial impact on water productivity. Micro-irrigation technologies could be one such recent intervention with the ability to use water more efficiently in irrigated agriculture. This technology can improve productivity, raise incomes through crop yields and ...

In order to investigate the effect of integrated nutrient management on growth and yield components in Cauliflower, Brassica oleracea var. botrytis L., cv. Pusa snowball- 16, an experiment was conducted using Randomized Block Design with two replications. The experiment comprised of 14 different treatment combinations comprising
of different sources of nutrients including organic, inorganic and bio-fertilizers. The growth parameters like height of plant (12.10, 23.50 cm), number of leaves per plant (9.10, 14.40) and diameter of stem (1.20, 2.10 cm) at 40 and 60 DAT respectively, the days required for curd initiation (62.00 days), days required for curd maturity (85.70 days) and staying period of curd (9.50 days) were observed maximum in treatment combination 75 % RDF + FYM + Azotobacter + Azospirillum (T6). The yield parameters like weight of curd per plot (17.50 kg/plot) and yield per hectare (180.04 q/ha) which was increased 44.10 per cent over RDF. From the studies it can be inferred that the application of 75 % RDF + FYM along with Azospirillum and Azotobactor was found to be the most effective treatment combination for getting enhanced growth and yield in cauliflower.

A field experiment was conducted during the two successive seasons of 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 at Central Laboratory for Agricultural Climate (CLAC), Agricultural Research Centre, Dokki, Giza governorate, Egypt to study the effect of two green bean cultivars (Paulista and Samantha) and three rates of rock phosphate (fine and granules) as a natural resource of P mixed with sand substrate in comparison with calcium superphosphate with recommended level on growth and yield of green bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) under plastic house conditions. Regarding the green bean cultivars, Paulista gave higher plant height, number of leaves, canopy and root fresh and dry weight than Samantha cultivar. Paulista cultivar produced the highest values of total pod yield per plant during the two successive seasons. Increasing phosphorus level (fine or granule rock phosphate) up to 150% enhanced pod yield with both used cultivars. The highest vegetative growth and yield were obtained from 150% fine rock phosphate combined with Paulista cultivar. Tissue nutrient analysis show that increase phosphorus level by rock phosphate source led to increase nutrient percentage for NPK in green beans leaves in comparison with recommended phosphorus dose applied as calcium superphosphate. The economic consideration among phosphorus and different P sources revealed that fine rock phosphate with Paulista cultivar gave the highest net income per greenhouse.

Two field experiments were conducted during two successive seasons of 2006/07 and 2007/08 to study the effect of substituting part of mineral fertilizers, on plant growth and yield of pepper (Capsicum annuum L. cultivar Reda) and cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. cultivar
Brenji 22-80) under the plastic houses, using organic solution. The treatments consisted of three compost solution treatments injected into drip irrigation system (without, one or twice times per week) and three foliar types of application for organic solution treatments (without,
once a week and once every two weeks). The objective of this study was to reduce the amount of the required mineral fertilizer under the greenhouse by injecting organic solution into the drip irrigation system. Data revealed that organic solution improved plant growth and yield during both seasons. Vegetative growth characters (plant height, number of leaves and leaf area) increased with increasing the frequency of organic solution application. The highest yield was obtained when injecting organic solution twice a week followed by once a week. The lowest plant growth and yield were obtained by using mineral fertilizers only. On the other hand, using organic solution to spray cucumber and pepper plants led to increased vegetative growth and fruit yield compared to without spraying
treatment. Plant analysis revealed that contents of N, P and K increased with using the organic solution accompanied with mineral
fertilizer comparing with using mineral fertilizer only. Economic analysis suggested that the injection of compost solution twice a week
combined with foliar application once a week saves 40% of the
mineral fertilizer compared to a system with mineral fertilizer
application only.

Abstract Modulation of the water availability for the plants can be a sustainable option to reduce agricultural water demand and stimulate the synthesis and accumulation of secondary metabolites. However, information on the reduction of water availability while maintaining yield and functional quality are scarce and fragmentary. This research aimed at elucidating the agronomical, physiological and functional quality (ascorbic acid, phenolic acids and flavonoids) responses triggered by a microbial-based biostimulant containing two strains of arbuscular mychorrizal fungi (AMF) and Trichoderma koningii of greenhouse grown lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) under well watered (WW), moderate (MDI) or severe deficit irrigation (SDI) regimes. Reducing water availability from WW to MDI did not affect yield, phenolic acids and flavonoids concentration, but reduced both AMF and Trichoderma presence in the roots and soil, respectively, along with plant Mg and Zn concentration by 12.4% and 26.8%, respectively, and almost halved net photosynthetic rate and transpiration. Further reduction in water availability also reduced yields, along with ascorbic acid, total phenols and quercetin. The biostimulant application increased a wealth of traits, including P, Mg, Fe, Mn, and Zn by 20.8%–97.4% and various phenolic acids compared to the non-inoculated control. This effect occurred irrespective of the water availability. In addition, the microbial-based biostimulant increased plant yield, Ca and Cu, and isochlorogenic acid concentrations, but such effects were evident under WW and MDI, only. Luteolin glycoside, that is frequently associated to a plant reaction to water deficit but also to a microbial stimulation, did not vary at reducing water availability in non-inoculated control and progressively increased in the biostimulant inoculated plant. These results suggest that the biostimulant effect on lettuce nutritional and functional quality was mostly independent of the water availability, whereas its effect on fresh marketable and dry yields were evident in WW and MDI, only, through a modulation of the biosynthesis of secondary compounds rather than nutrient uptake. These results have a high practical implication when aiming to improve both plant yield and product quality while reducing water availability.

Two field experiments were conducted in 2004 and 2005 at El-
Bosaily farm in the north coastal of Egypt. The main objective' of this study was to evaluate and improving water use efficiency in terms of kg grains per cubic meter of water for three maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids (Single Cross 10, Three Ways Crass 310 and Three Ways Cross 324), Three applied irrigation levels (80,' 100 and 120% of the potential . evapotranspiration estimated according to class A pan equation) were applied by using drip irrigation system. This could be attributed to the best balance of 80% irrigation regarding vegetative growth (plant height, number of leaves, stem diameter and leaf area index) against growth yield. Nevertheless, 100% irrigation gave the highest yield and vegetative growth which was compensated the amount of water -consumed. The result show that 80% irrigation level gave the highest water use efficiency (2.40 kg grain! m3 water) with the different maize hybrids followed by 100% irrigation level (2.0 kg grain! m3 water).

This study aims to assess the impact of four types of organic amendments on soil fertility and pepper
crop (Capsicum annuum, L.) cv. starter and chargui under greenhouse. Six treatments have been
proposed: cattle manure (T1) 55 t.ha-1, commercial compost of German origin (T2) 1 t.ha-1, mixture of
27.5 t.ha-1 of T1 + 0.5 t.ha-1 of T2 (T3), commercial compost of French origin (T4) 2 t.ha-1, Tunisian
commercial compost (T5) 10 t.ha-1, and a control (T0) without amendment. Soil pH has remained alkaline
with a slight downward trend. The composts T2 and T4 produced a significant increase in EC compared
to control and showed the lowest CEC. Organic amendments contribute in a significant improvement of
the OM content of the soil, nitrogen, phosphorus and exchangeable potassium levels compared to
control. For the starter cv. composts T4 and T2 have achieved the yield of 9.5 and 9.4 kg. m-2 with
increases of 16% and 15% compared to control. For cv. Chargui all treatments had a significant effect
on the cumulative yield at 210 DAP and are classified as follows T3> T5> T2> T4> T1> T0 with respective
yields of 9.8; 8.8; 8; 7.9 and 7.6 kg.m-2, with an increase of 29% and 16% for T3 and T5 compared to
control. The chemical properties of soil have shown large variations depending on the type of organic
amendment applied. The combined treatment of compost and manure (T3) showed the best rate of
phosphorus, magnesium, and calcium and best CEC. Mineral fertilization for this treatment may be
revised downward. Organic amendments showed significant effect on pepper yield, with a different
varietal behavior towards treatments.

The present investigation was conducted for two seasons (2006 and 2007) into white polyethylene container filled with coconut fiber, to study the effect of three nitrogen levels (50, 100 and 150 ppm) applied by fertigation system and three compost levels (0, 2 and 4% by volume). Lettuce plant (Lactuca sativa L.) with two types' iceberg and romaine lettuce were transplanted in October to study the effect of treatments on vegetative growth, nutrients content (nitrogen, phosphors, potassium, calcium, magnesium and nitrate) as well as total yield. The experimental design was a split- plot with three replications. The obtained results indicated that the increasing nitrogen level up to 150 ppm significantly increased plant height, number of leaves per plant, dry weight and yield. Compost at 4% gave the highest vegetative growth and yield comparing with the other treatments. The highest nitrogen level (150 ppm) combined with compost 4% increased significantly vegetative growth and total yield of lettuce. On the other hand, 50 ppm nitrogen gave the highest nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and the least value of nitrate content in leaves followed by 100 ppm.

Abstract Modulation of the water availability for the plants can be a sustainable option to reduce agricultural water demand and stimulate the synthesis and accumulation of secondary metabolites. However, information on the reduction of water availability while maintaining yield and functional quality are scarce and fragmentary. This research aimed at elucidating the agronomical, physiological and functional quality (ascorbic acid, phenolic acids and flavonoids) responses triggered by a microbial-based biostimulant containing two strains of arbuscular mychorrizal fungi (AMF) and Trichoderma koningii of greenhouse grown lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) under well watered (WW), moderate (MDI) or severe deficit irrigation (SDI) regimes. Reducing water availability from WW to MDI did not affect yield, phenolic acids and flavonoids concentration, but reduced both AMF and Trichoderma presence in the roots and soil, respectively, along with plant Mg and Zn concentration by 12.4% and 26.8%, respectively, and almost halved net photosynthetic rate and transpiration. Further reduction in water availability also reduced yields, along with ascorbic acid, total phenols and quercetin. The biostimulant application increased a wealth of traits, including P, Mg, Fe, Mn, and Zn by 20.8%–97.4% and various phenolic acids compared to the non-inoculated control. This effect occurred irrespective of the water availability. In addition, the microbial-based biostimulant increased plant yield, Ca and Cu, and isochlorogenic acid concentrations, but such effects were evident under WW and MDI, only. Luteolin glycoside, that is frequently associated to a plant reaction to water deficit but also to a microbial stimulation, did not vary at reducing water availability in non-inoculated control and progressively increased in the biostimulant inoculated plant. These results suggest that the biostimulant effect on lettuce nutritional and functional quality was mostly independent of the water availability, whereas its effect on fresh marketable and dry yields were evident in WW and MDI, only, through a modulation of the biosynthesis of secondary compounds rather than nutrient uptake. These results have a high practical implication when aiming to improve both plant yield and product quality while reducing water availability.

Modulation of the water availability for the plants can be a sustainable option to reduce agricultural water demand and stimulate the synthesis and accumulation of secondary metabolites. However, information on the reduction of water availability while maintaining yield and functional quality are scarce and fragmentary. Accordingly , this research aimed at elucidating the agronomical, physiological and functional quality (ascorbic acid, phenolic acids and flavonoids) responses triggered by a microbial-based biostimulant containing two strains of arbuscular mychorrizal fungi (AMF) and Trichoderma koningii of greenhouse grown lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) under well watered (WW), moderate (MDI) or severe deficit irrigation (SDI) regimes. Reducing water availability from WW to MDI did not affect yield, phenolic acids and flavonoids concentration, but reduced both AMF and Trichoderma presence in the roots and soil, respectively, along with plant Mg and Zn concentration by 12.4% and 26.8%,...

This study aims to assess the impact of four types of organic amendments on soil fertility and pepper crop (Capsicum annuum, L.) cv. starter and chargui under greenhouse. Six treatments have been proposed: cattle manure (T1) 55 t.ha -1 , commercial compost of German origin (T2) 1 t.ha -1 , mixture of 27.5 t.ha -1 of T1 + 0.5 t.ha -1 of T2 (T3), commercial compost of French origin (T4) 2 t.ha -1 , Tunisian commercial compost (T5) 10 t.ha -1 , and a control (T0) without amendment. Soil pH has remained alkaline with a slight downward trend. The composts T2 and T4 produced a significant increase in EC compared to control and showed the lowest CEC. Organic amendments contribute in a significant improvement of the OM content of the soil, nitrogen, phosphorus and exchangeable potassium levels compared to control. For the starter cv. composts T4 and T2 have achieved the yield of 9.5 and 9.4 kg. m -2 with increases of 16% and 15% compared to control. For cv. Chargui all treatments had a sign...

Tomatoes were grown in a plastic greenhouse under 2 irrigation programmes and four N-fertiliser concentrations (0,
100, 150 and 200 mg N l-1) of irrigation water. P and K concentrations were kept constant at 30 and 200 mg l-1, respectively, for
all N treatments. A drip irrigation system with single laterals centred between the plant rows, spaced 50 cm apart was used for
irrigation as well as for feeding fertiliser solution (i.e. fertigation) during the experiment. Tensiometers, installed in 3 replicates at
45 cm soil depth and centred mid-way between 2 plants in rows, were used for irrigation scheduling. Two irrigation programmes,
controlled through continuous monitoring of root-zone soil-water tension, were used as irrigation treatments. In one of the
treatments, irrigation scheduling was based on a maximum soil-water tension of 50 kPa during the entire season. In the second
treatment, soil-water tension to initiate irrigation was initially high (70 kPa), until fruit stetting, and it fell down to 50 kPa, later in
the season. 15N labelled urea was used in one of the N-concentration treatments (150 mg N l-1) to estimate tomato N-fertiliser
recovery. The results showed that tomato yield was not influenced significantly by irrigation treatments, although the irrigation
treatment of low soil-water tension (£ 50 kPa), maintained throughout the season, gave higher yield. Exposing tomatoes to high
soil water stress during the early growth stage, first 70 kPa then dropping to 50 kPa, promotes proportionally higher uptake of
soil N, and thus reduces the recovery of applied N-fertiliser. However, when low soil water tension (£50 kPa) was maintained
throughout the season, N-fertiliser recovery was 22.4% higher compared with when high soil water-tension prevailed until mid
season. As for the effects of N concentration of the feeding solution, tomatoes showed a statistically significant (P £ 0.05) fruityield
response to varying N concentrations. The feeding-solution-N concentration giving the highest tomato fruit yield was about
120 mg N l-1 as estimated using a N-concentration yield-response function.

Preface The global society has to increase food production to feed the ever increasing population as well as to manage available water to produce enough food and fiber to meet future targets. On the other hand, Indian agriculture is beset with several challenges. Drudgery, natural uncertainties, low productivities, low profitability, climate change, and low professional esteem are all driving the cultivators away from agriculture. Absolute scarcity and the tempo-spatial variability in water availability necessitate technological, institutional and policy interventions for equitable and sustainable use of water. Modern micro-irrigation and precision irrigation is one of the technological interventions in agriculture that has substantial impact on water productivity. Micro-irrigation technologies could be one such recent intervention with the ability to use water more efficiently in irrigated agriculture. This technology can improve productivity, raise incomes through crop yields and ...

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. cv. Delta Star F1) plants were grown in 34 litre white plastic containers filled with sand at different levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium under a typical plastic-covered greenhouse. The experiment was carried out in the Protected Cultivation Experimental Site at Dokki, Giza during two successive seasons of 2002/2003 and 2003/2004. The objective of this study was to determine cucumber response and nutrient uptake under different treatments. Twenty seven combinations of nitrogen [90 (N1), 180 (N2) and 270 (N3) mg/l]; phosphorus [15 (P1), 35 (P2) and 70 (P3) mg/l] and potassium [120 (K1), 240 (K2) and 360 (K3) mg/l] were applied in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Plant leaf samples (4th mature leaf from top) were removed in order to analyze nutrient concentration. Harvesting started after four weeks from transplanting and the total yield was accumulated every two weeks in order to find out the relationship between yield from one hand and N, P and K status from the other hand. The results showed that plant height, leaves area, stem diameter and chlorophyll content were increased with increasing nitrogen concentration in the nutrient solution accompanied with (P2K2), (P2K3), (P3K2) or (P3K3). The lowest early and total yields were obtained in N1 accompanied with different combinations of P and K. Meanwhile, N2 gave the highest early yield under different combinations with P and K but without significant differences with N3 treatments up till the 2nd week after beginning of harvest; N3 gave significantly the highest total yield followed by N2 accompanied with (P2K2), (P2K3), (P3K2) and (P3K3) in comparison with both N2 and N3 treatments with either P1, K1 or both of them. Plant analysis revealed that low concentrations of N, P or K in the 4th leaf were proportional to low vegetative growth parameters and total yields.