Optimizing hydroponic forage production from Moroccan cereal varieties: nutritional quality, yield and digestibility for sustainable livestock feed

Climate change and natural resource depletion, notably water depletion, pose major challenges to agriculture, particularly in arid regions. Adequate livestock feed is vital to ensuring food security. Hydroponic cultivation offers a sustainable solution to these issues. This study evaluated three Moroccan cereal varieties, barley (Hordeum vulgare), soft wheat (Triticum aestivum), and triticale (Triticosecale), using an automated hydroponic system. The experiment was conducted under controlled conditions to measure green and dry fodder yields, dry matter content, protein levels, and digestibility using a randomized block design with four replicates per species. Significant variations were found among the varieties for all traits, with several positive correlations. Triticale 'Ain Nzagh' produced a green fodder yield of 320 t/ha, wheat 'Malika' achieved 54.34 t/ha in dry fodder, and barley 'Hespanica' showed a protein content of 20.81%, making these varieties promising for hydroponic feed production. These findings indicate the potential of hydroponics in reducing resource use, such as water and land, while meeting the growing demand for animal feed. Further research is required to assess the economic feasibility of these systems for broader adoption in sustainable agriculture.