Concentration of nitrogen, one of the major elements, and ratio of two nitrogen forms (NH4 + and NO3 –) in the nutrient solution affect the quality and food safety of fresh vegetable produce. This study was conducted to find an appropriate strength and NH4 +:NO3 – ratio of a nutrient solution for growth and development of a Romaine lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. longiflora) ‘Caesar Green’, a representative leafy vegetable, grown in a home hydroponic system. In the first experiment, plants were grown using three types of nutrient solution: A commercial nutrient solution (Peters) and two strengths (GNU1 and GNU2) of a multipurpose nutrient solution (GNU solution) developed in a Gyeongsang National University lab. Plants grown with the GNU1 and GNU2 had greater shoot length, leaf length and width, and biomass yield than Peters. On the other hand, the root hairs of plants grown with Peters were short and dark in color. Tissue NH4 + content in the Peters was higher than that of the GNU1 and GNU2. The higher contents of NH4 + in this solution may have caused ammonium toxicity. In the second experiment, eight treatment solutions, combining GNU1 and GNU2 solutions with four ratios of NO3 –:NH4 + named as 1, 2, 3 and 4 were used. Both experiments showed more growth in the GNU2 group, which had a relatively low ionic strength of the nutrient solution. The growth of Romaine lettuce showed the greatest fresh weight along with low tissue NO3 – content in the GNU2-2. This was more advantageous in terms of food safety in that it suppressed the accumulation of surplus NO3 – in tissues due to the low ionic strength of the GNU2 subgroup. In addition, this is preferable in that it can reduce the absolute amount of the input of inorganic nutrients to the nutrient solution.

The home hydroponic system used in this experiment supplied the nutrient solution using the ebb and flow-type system, and the supply time, interval, and water levels of the nutrient solutions were fixed. This experiment was conducted to find a more favorable growth medium for plant growth in the hydroponic system. The medium used in the experiment was of two types, phenolic foam and rockwool, and the heights were 28 and 38 mm, respectively. As for the the multipurpose nutrient solutions (GNU1 and GNU2) were prepared in the lab. The composition of the GNU1 and GNU2 was the same, and there was a difference between 100 and 70% in ion concentrations. The plants used were Ssamchoo (Brassica lee ssp. namai) and Romaine lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. longiflora). First, in the physicochemical measurements of the empty medium, change in the pH and EC of the distilled water passing through the medium was less in the rockwool than in the phenolic foam. This indicates that there is less change in the chemical properties of the nutrient solution due to the medium when rockwool is used. After hydroponic culture of Ssamchoo and Romaine lettuce, the medium showed more residual salts in Romaine lettuce. Both Ssamchoo and Romaine lettuce showed less salt accumulation in rockwool. The emergence rate was significantly higher in rockwool for both species. The lower height of the medium, the faster the emergence was. Ssamchoo displayed significantly higher fresh weight (124.7%), shoot length (107.6%), and leaf width (107.9%) when grown in GNU1, but there were no significant differences as affected by the medium. However, in Romaine lettuce, the type and height of the medium resulted in significant differences. The fresh weight of Romaine lettuce was significantly higher in rockwool (119.6%) than in phenolic foam, and significantly higher at 38 (114.6%) than 28 mm. Although there is a difference depending on the species, rockwool is more suitable for the ebb and flow-type system than phenolic foam, and the height of 38 is more advantageous than 28 mm.