Performance evaluation of pak choi (Brassica rapa subsp. Chinensis) in different soilless cultivation methods

An experiment was undertaken at Defence Research Laboratory, Tezpur, Assam during the winter season of 2020 to evaluate the performance of pak choi in the vertical system and nutrient film technique (hydroponics) against conventional method of soil cultivation. The soilless nursery of pak choi cv. Choko was raised under standard conditions at the station itself and planted under different cultivation methods. Growth attributes such as the number of leaves and leaf blade length registered a dramatic increase under the NFT system over the soil cultivation method as control. Yield in terms of fresh weight grams per plant under nutrient film technique in combination with hydroton was recorded highest followed by soil cultivation and soilless vertical cultivation being the least. Although the pak choi under soilless vertical cultivation yielded the lowest, it could be recommended as a suitable method for the production of baby pak choi, whereas, the NFT which was found approximately 14 to 16 days early in harvest maturity could be recommended for the areas where soil cultivation is either not possible or not feasible owing to different soil and environmental issues.