Impact of different cultivation practices on the perennial wall-rocket in greenhouses

Abstract

Evaluation of best practices for planting time, mulching and fertilization of perennial wall-rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia) in Romania is an important step in development of sustainable and efficient agriculture. In the context of the diversity of climatic and soil conditions in Romania, identifying the most appropriate agricultural techniques for this crop becomes essential to ensure both crop productivity and quality. By analysing the interaction between these agricultural practices, the study aimed to identify the most efficient methods for growing perennial wall-rocket under optimal conditions. Within it, we evaluated the behaviour of the variety, Bologna, under influence of three technological factors, in two experimental years (2022-2023): planting time (with three gradations: 28.03 = Epoch 1, 7.04 = Epoch 2 and 17.04 = Epoch 3), mulching (with three gradations: non mulching - NM, mulching with white polyethylene film - WLDPE, and mulching with black polyethylene film - BLDPE) and fertilization (with three gradations: unfertilized - NF, organic fertilized - O, and chemical fertilization - Ch). The experiment was conducted in an unheated plot, during the winter-summer cropping cycle, using a split-plot design with three replications. For the Epoch factor, the highest yield resulted from the first Epoch, 53.90 t ha-1. For the mulching factor the highest yield resulted from WLDPE 55.91 t ha-1. For the fertilization factor the highest yield was obtained from the organic fertilized, 55.67 t ha-1.