Assessing growing media in simplified hydroponics in Tunisia: an open access dataset

The following dataset was used for the publication Cerasola, V.A., Jmayai, A., Viola, F., Jamai, D., Adamo, F., Costea, C., Pennisi, G., Orsini, F., Michelon, N., Setti, M. and Gianquinto, G. (2025). Simplified hydroponics in Tunisia: assessing the charred straw as growing substrate for lettuce cultivation. Acta Hortic. 1422, 29-36. The dataset includes the agronomic variables monitored at the harvest of a lettuce crop cultivated in a simplified hydroponic system, in a validation experiment where two different growing media were tested (commercial perlite versus carbonized wheat straw). The hydroponic system is a closed-loop system, where plastic bottles are used as pot where plants are transplanted. The bottles are joined in lines, and tilted at the slope of 24%, and filled with the substrate. The system integrated a fed-gravity irrigation system, where the nutrient solution is delivered from an upper tank (at 2 m height) to the first bottles of the lines. Thanks to the gravity, the nutrient solution reaches the lower part of the system from where the water is recovered with a drainage system and recirculated again (for a visual representation of the hydroponic system the reader is invited to read the publication Michelon, N. et al. (2020). Strategies for improved yield and water use efficiency of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) through simplified soilless cultivation under semi-arid climate. Agronomy, 10(9), 1379. doi.org). The data coming from the experimentation are reported in the file attached.