TY - JOUR
T1 - Comparison of growth characteristics, functional qualities, and texture of hydroponically grown and soil-grown lettuce
AU - Lei, Chunli
AU - Engeseth, Nicki J.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2021/10
Y1 - 2021/10
N2 - Hydroponics has become one of the most popular approaches in today's agricultural production. Yet it is questionable whether hydroponics produce vegetables with comparable quality to soil-grown vegetables. In this study, hydroponically and soil-grown lettuce were compared for morphology, texture, antioxidant capacity, and functional quality. Giant Caesar lettuce was grown in laboratory-constructed hydroponic or soil systems for 35 days. Above-ground plant size, biomass, and leaf size of hydroponic lettuce were not significantly different from soil-grown lettuce. Hydroponic lettuce had significantly (p < 0.05) longer roots, higher moisture and lower ash. No significant difference in ascorbic acid, chlorophyll, β-carotenes, and total phenolics was found in freeze-dried lettuce. However, all compounds analyzed were significantly higher in soil-grown lettuce based on fresh weight. Antioxidant capacity of soil-grown lettuce was significantly higher on both dry- (15.32%) and wet-basis (41.20%). Hydroponic lettuce had softer leaves and firmer midribs; potentially linked to increased lignin (24.18%) in plant cell walls. This represents the first comprehensive side-by-side growth study demonstrating that lettuce grown hydroponically is not the same quality as that grown in soil.
AB - Hydroponics has become one of the most popular approaches in today's agricultural production. Yet it is questionable whether hydroponics produce vegetables with comparable quality to soil-grown vegetables. In this study, hydroponically and soil-grown lettuce were compared for morphology, texture, antioxidant capacity, and functional quality. Giant Caesar lettuce was grown in laboratory-constructed hydroponic or soil systems for 35 days. Above-ground plant size, biomass, and leaf size of hydroponic lettuce were not significantly different from soil-grown lettuce. Hydroponic lettuce had significantly (p < 0.05) longer roots, higher moisture and lower ash. No significant difference in ascorbic acid, chlorophyll, β-carotenes, and total phenolics was found in freeze-dried lettuce. However, all compounds analyzed were significantly higher in soil-grown lettuce based on fresh weight. Antioxidant capacity of soil-grown lettuce was significantly higher on both dry- (15.32%) and wet-basis (41.20%). Hydroponic lettuce had softer leaves and firmer midribs; potentially linked to increased lignin (24.18%) in plant cell walls. This represents the first comprehensive side-by-side growth study demonstrating that lettuce grown hydroponically is not the same quality as that grown in soil.
KW - Comparison
KW - Hydroponically grown
KW - Lettuce quality
KW - Soil-grown
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U2 - 10.1016/j.lwt.2021.111931
DO - 10.1016/j.lwt.2021.111931
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85108452579
SN - 0023-6438
VL - 150
JO - LWT
JF - LWT
M1 - 111931
ER -