In a preliminary trial, a comparison was made of two nutrient solutions, HOAGLAND & ARNON (1950) number 2, and KARIM & VLAMIS (1962), both in the presence and in the absence of forced aeration. Plants grown during 40 days (till the middle of the tillering stage) showed a higher dry matter yield as well as a higher N content when receiving the first solution, which contains both nitrate and ammonium N, when compared with the latter whose nitrogen is only in the NO-3form. Aeration was not necessary for maximum growth in either case.