Impact of Essential Nutrient Deficiency on the Growth and Yield of Four Hydroponic Vegetable Crops Using a Split-Plot Design in Hydroponic Systems (Applied Plant Physiology Study)

Hadid, Abd.
Rois
Rahman, Abdul
Salingkat, Chitra Angriani
Jusriadi
Mustakim
Mustamin
Dharma, Made Aditiya
Arsani, Ni Ketut Dewi Kusuma

Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan IPA (JPPIPA)
Vol 12 No 2 (2026): In Progress

Essential nutrients play critical roles in plant physiology; therefore, nutrient imbalance in hydroponics can rapidly reduce growth and yield. This study evaluated the effects of N, P, and K deficiencies on four hydroponic vegetable crops using a split-plot design to support nutrient-deficiency diagnosis and practical nutrient management. This study used a split-plot design, with four nutrient types as main plots: N0 (balanced N, P, K), N1 (nitrogen deficiency), N2 (phosphorus deficiency), and N3 (potassium deficiency). The second factor consisted of four types of vegetable crops as subplots: S1 (Pakcoy), S2 (Caisim mustard), S3 (Green Romaine), and S4 (Kangkung), resulting in 16 treatment combinations, each repeated four times, for a total of 64 experimental units. The results indicate that deficiencies in nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) significantly affect growth and yield in hydroponic systems. Across crops, N deficiency most consistently reduced vegetative growth and fresh weight, P deficiency primarily constrained root-related traits and leaf expansion, and K deficiency affected yield-related performance and quality attributes.