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Effects of Nutrient Solution Heating on the Root Development and Yield of Three Lettuce Cultivars (Lactuca sativa L.) Grown in NFT and Aeroponic Systems under Low-Temperature Conditions

저온기 박막경과 분무경 시스템에서 양액 가온 온도가 상추의 뿌리 발달과 수량에 미치는 영향

Se Jin Kim1
,
Mi Young Lim1
,
Joo Hee Nam1
,
Myeong Suk Kim1
,
Gyeong Lee Choi1
,
Mi Young Roh1
,
Dong Pil Kim2*
김 세진1
,
임 미영1
,
남 주희1
,
김 명석1
,
최 경이1
,
노 미영1
,
김 동필2*
1Protected Horticulture Research Institute, National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, Haman 52054, Korea
2Department of Horticultural Science, College of Agriculture and Life Science, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea
1국립원예특작과학원 시설원예연구소
2충남대학교 원예학과
*Corresponding Author
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Abstract

This study investigated the effects of nutrient solution heating (NSH) on the root-zone temperature (RZT), root development, shoot growth, and yield of three lettuce cultivars (Lactuca sativa L.) grown in two water culture systems, the Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) system and an aeroponic system, during a low-temperature period. Three cultivars (‘Caipira’, ‘Volare’, and ‘Isabel’) were cultivated in a glasshouse using nutrient solutions heated to set temperatures of 20, 25, and 30°C. NSH effectively increased the RZT in both the NFT and aeroponic systems. However, the aeroponic system exhibited noticeably greater temperature stability than the NFT system owing to its Styrofoam-insulated and enclosed structure. Heated nutrient solutions significantly promoted root development by, for instance, increasing the overall root length, number of tips, and the lateral roots while decreasing the average root diameter, indicating enhanced root formation, which is beneficial for water and nutrient uptake and transport. Growth and harvest characteristics, specifically the leaf length, no. of leaves, chlorophyll contents, leaf area, shoot fresh/dry weight, and root fresh/dry weight, also improved with higher RZTs. The NFT system showed higher shoot biomass and yield outcomes, whereas the aeroponic system exhibited superior root development and greater root biomass. Among the tested temperatures, NSH30 resulted in better growth and yield levels than NSH20 and NSH25. Although the nutrient solution was heated to 30°C, the actual RZT achieved was approximately 25°C, which was found to be optimal for lettuce root and shoot growth. These findings suggest that nutrient solution heating is an effective strategy to enhance lettuce productivity in NFT and aeroponic systems during low-temperature periods.

Keywords
biomass
hydroponics
nutrient film technique
root-zone
shoot:root ratio
water culture

본 연구는 저온기 순수수경 재배 시스템인 박막경(NFT)과 분무경(aeroponics)에서 양액 가온이 상추(Lactuca sativa L.)의 근권 온도, 뿌리 발달, 지상부 생육 및 수확량에 미치는 영향을 구명하였다. 유리온실에서 세가지 품종(‘카이피라’, ‘볼라레’, ‘이자벨’)을 대상으로 양액 온도를 20, 25, 30°C로 가온하였다. 양액 가온은 NFT와 분무경 시스템 모두에서 근권 온도를 효과적으로 상승시켰다. 그러나 분무경 시스템은 스티로폼 단열 및 밀폐 구조 덕분에 NFT보다 더 높은 온도 안정성을 보였다. 가온 양액은 근장, 근단 수, 측근 발생 증가, 평균 근경 감소 등 양수분의 흡수와 이동에 유리한 형태로 뿌리를 유의미하게 발달시켰다. 엽면적, 생체중, 건물중 등 생육·수확 특성은 더 높은 근권 온도에서 개선되었다. NFT는 더 높은 지상부 바이오매스와 수확량을 보인 반면, 분무경은 더 우수한 뿌리 발달과 근권부 바이오매스를 나타냈다. 처리 온도 중 NSH30이 NSH20과 NSH25보다 더 나은 생육과 수량을 보였다. 양액 가온 온도를 30°C로 설정하였음에도, 실제 근권 온도는 상추의 근권부와 지상부 생육에 적합한 약 25°C였다. 해당 연구 결과는 저온기 NFT와 분무경 시스템에서 상추 재배 시 양액 가온이 생산성을 향상시킬 수 있는 효과적인 전략이 될 수 있음을 시사한다.

키워드
생물량
수경재배
박막경
근권
지상부–근권부 비율
순수수경
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Information
  • Publisher :KOREAN SOCIETY FOR HORTICULTURAL SCIENCE
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국원예학회
  • Journal Title :Horticultural Science and Technology
  • Journal Title(Ko) :원예과학기술지
  • Received Date : 2026-02-09
  • Revised Date : 2026-06-26
  • Accepted Date : 2026-07-02
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7235/HORT.20260024
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