We evaluated the effects of neodymium (0.000, 2.885, 5.770 and 8.655 mg · L ⁻¹ ) and zinc (0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 mg · L ⁻¹ ), as well as their interaction on lettuce plants in hydroponics. Applications of 2.885 mg Nd · L ⁻¹ and 5.770 mg Nd · L ⁻¹ increased plant height, number of leaves and leaf area, as well as fresh and dry stem, root and total biomasses. Root volume was greater in plants treated with 2.885 mg Nd · L ⁻¹ . With 0.1 mg Zn · L ⁻¹ , plant height, leaf area and fresh stem, root and total biomass were greater, while applying 0.3 mg Zn · L ⁻¹ increased the ratio of dry biomass of stems and roots. Plants exposed to 5.770 mg Nd · L ⁻¹ + 0.3 mg Zn · L ⁻¹ exhibited greater leaf length. The ratios of fresh and dry biomass of stems and roots increased in plants treated with 8.655 mg · L ⁻¹ Nd + 0.3 mg Zn · L ⁻¹ . Dry biomass weights of stems, roots and total were the highest in plants treated with 20 mg Nd · L ⁻¹ + 0.1 mg Zn · L ⁻¹ . Nd significantly increased foliar concentration of N, P and K. Hence, Nd and Zn improve growth and nutrition.

This research aimed to evaluate the effects of different concentrations of neodymium (Nd: 0, 2.885, 5.770, and 8.655 mg L⁻¹, referred to as Nd0, Nd1, Nd2, and Nd3, respectively) and zinc (Zn: 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 mg L⁻¹, designated as Zn1, Zn2, and Zn3, respectively), as well as their combined interaction, on the nutritional content of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) cv. Ruby Sky. The seedlings were grown in a floating hydroponic system under greenhouse conditions. After 48 days of treatment, leaf samples were collected to determine their nutrient content. Leaf contents of N, P, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Mn, B, and Nd were higher with the Nd1 (2.885 mg Nd L⁻¹ + Zn1 (0.1 mg Zn L⁻¹) treatment. The Nd3 (8.655 mg Nd L⁻¹) + Zn3 (0.3 mg Zn L⁻¹) treatment significantly increased the leaf contents of Cu and Zn. The K content was higher in leaves treated with Nd2 (5.770 mg Nd L⁻¹) + Zn3 (0.3 mg Zn L⁻¹). The joint application of Nd and Zn had positive effects on the nutrition of hydroponic lettuce, and Nd promoted the biofortification of lettuce by increasing leaf Zn content.

La deficiencia de zinc (Zn) es uno de los problemas de malnutrición más extendidos a nivel mundial, particularmente en niños y poblaciones con dietas poco diversificadas