Comparative study of cultivation methods for optimizing lettuce production on household balconies

This study investigated cultivation methods for optimizing lettuce production on household balconies. Circulating hydroponics, static hydroponics, and substrate cultivation were compared with soil cultivation (control) to evaluate growth, yield, and quality. Hydroponic systems significantly outperformed soil cultivation. Static hydroponics produced the highest biomass, with fresh and dry weights increasing by 10.53% and 55.29% over the control. Circulating hydroponics, while slightly lower in yield, enhanced vitamin C content by 6.57% and sensory quality by 41%, ranking second overall. Substrate cultivation showed moderate improvements, with increases of 5.14% in vitamin C and 19.66% in taste rating compared to the control. Considering growth performance, space efficiency, management ease, and cost, static and circulating hydroponics were identified as the most suitable systems for balcony-based lettuce cultivation. These results provide practical guidance for urban households and support the promotion of balcony farming as a sustainable approach to urban agriculture.