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EVEC Microgreens
Photon Distribution of Sole-Source Lighting Affects the Mineral Nutrient Content of Microgreens
In the study, we cultivated basil, beet, and mustard microgreens under different lighting treatments from light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and evaluated the co
Viktorija Vaštakaitė‐Kairienė, A. Brazaitytė, Jurga Miliauskienė, Rūta Sutulienė, Kristina Laužikė, Akvilė Viršilė, G. Samuolienė, Erik S. Runkle
Agriculture · 2022 · https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12081086
Abstract
In the study, we cultivated basil, beet, and mustard microgreens under different lighting treatments from light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and evaluated the contents of mineral nutrients. Microgreens grew under blue 447, red 638 and 665, far-red 731 nm LEDs, or the same spectrum but with partial substitution of 638 nm red with green 520 (BRG), yellow 595 (BRY), or orange 622 nm (BRO) LEDs (16 h photoperiod; total photon flux density of 300 μmol m −2 s −1). BRG, BRY, or BRO lighting had distinct effects on mineral contents among the microgreen species. BRG increased the content of mineral nutrients, especially in mustard and beet. In all microgreens, Ca and P were associated with BRG; in beet and mustard, Zn and Mg were associated with BRG; in basil, Zn was associated with BRY and Mg with BRO treatments. A broader photon spectrum increased Fe (up to 2.9–fold), K:Ca, P:Mg, and P:Zn in basil, and Fe:Zn in microgreens. We conclude that the partial replacement of red with green light was the most effective at enhancing the mineral nutrient content of microgreens, although responses varied among the crops studied.
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Viktorija Vaštakaitė‐Kairienė; A. Brazaitytė; Jurga Miliauskienė; Rūta Sutulienė; Kristina Laužikė; Akvilė Viršilė; G. Samuolienė; Erik S. Runkle (2022). Photon Distribution of Sole-Source Lighting Affects the Mineral Nutrient Content of Microgreens. Agriculture. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12081086 Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Hosted by EVEC Athens (microgreens.org.gr). No changes were made to this article. Provided as-is, without warranties. EVEC Athens is not affiliated with, and this copy is not endorsed by, the authors or the publisher.
Explore this on our site
- How to grow it: Basil microgreens — growing guide
- How to grow it: Beetroot microgreens — growing guide
- How to grow it: Mustard microgreens — growing guide
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