To evaluate the influence of growth hormone application on hydroponic species (Maize, Sorghum and Millet)

Abstract

Hydroponics is a plant growth system that provides a more precise control of growth media Composition. Several hydroponic systems have been reported for Arabidopsis and other model plants. The ease of system set up, cost of the growth system and flexibility to characterize and harvest plant material are features continually improved in new hydroponic system reported. An experiment was conducted at Makerere University Agricultural Research Institute-Kabanyolo (MUARIK). It is located at an altitude of 1217 meters above sea level on coordinates 0.16˚24'16 N and 32.5˚27'34E, approximately 19 km in the northeast of Kampala at Kabanyolo in Lake Victoria Crescent. The main objective of the study was to evaluate the influence of growth hormone application on hydroponic species. The hydroponic species used for the experiment were maize sorghum and millet and Di grow was the growth hormone used. The treatments included maize sorghum and millet and they were arranged in a completely randomized block design with five replicates. Data was collected on shoot height, root length and fresh biomass at harvesting. However shoot height and root length were recorded on a daily basis Maize had the highest yield of 4.5kgs at the end of the 10th day while millet had the least 3.3kgs. For shoot length and root length maize had the highest (250mm and 20cm respectively) and millet had the least (190mm and 12cm respectively). It can be concluded that maize has the highest response to growth hormone application. Therefore maize should be adopted by farmers since it led to the highest yields.