CULTIVATION OF Rosmarinus officinalis IN HYDROPONIC SYSTEM

This research was conducted to establish the relationship between population density to total dry biomass production and estimate the nutrient absorption curve in a hydroponics system for Rosmarinus officinalis L. Study was carried out at the Center for Research and Development of Hydroponics in Faculty of Agronomy at the Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon. Three population densities viz., 8, 16 and 24 plants per square meter were evaluated in a hydroponic system, using volcanic rock with grain diameter of 20-40 mm as an inert substrate and a standard hydroponic nutrient solution. Among tested three plant densities, population density of 8 plants m(-2), total dry biomass production produced highest, total dry biomass and it shows superiority over the plant density with 16 to 24 plants m(-2) populations. There were no significant differences in plant height. The data obtained were fitted to linear growth models, which were used to estimate nutrient absorption curves.