Study on the Influence of the Growing Season on the Production of Leaf Parsley (Petroselinum Crispum) in the NFT Hydroponic System

Hydroponic cultivation using the Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) offers a sustainable approach for year-round production of leafy greens like parsley (Petroselinum crispum), but sea sonal variations in environmental factors can influence growth, biomass accumulation, and nitrate levels, impacting nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and product quality. This study evaluated the effects of spring and autumn-winter growing seasons on the vegetative growth, leaf production, fresh biomass, and nitrate accumulation in two parsley varieties (Ory and Grüne Perle) cultivated in an NFT system, aiming to optimize NUE and minimize nitrate buildup for enhanced sustainability. Methods: Parsley seedlings were grown in an NFT hydroponic setup with a nutrient solution (pH 6.0, EC initially 1.2 mS/cm increasing to 2.2 mS/cm) at a flow rate of 1.5 L/min. Growth parameters (plant height, leaf number, fresh weight) and nitrate content were monitored over 30 days in greenhouse conditions during 2023–2024. Data were analyzed for seasonal and varietal differences. Spring conditions promoted superior growth, with Grüne Perle achieving higher heights (28.33 cm), leaf counts (27.00), and fresh weights (118.00 g/plant) compared to Ory (25.67 cm, 12.67 leaves, 98.70 g/plant). Autumn-winter reduced these metrics by 4–20%, but Grüne Perle maintained better performance. Nitrate levels were lower in spring (47–53 mg/kg) than autumnwinter (71–76 mg/kg), indicating improved NUE under favorable light and temperature. Seasonal modulation favors spring cultivation for optimal NUE and reduced nitrate accumulation, with Grüne Perle exhibiting greater adaptability. These findings support sustainable NFT-based parsley production by aligning cultivation with environmental optima, potentially reducing fertilizer inputs and enhancing year-round viability.