Get in touch
Questions about growing, workshops, the cooperative or partnerships? Send us a message and we will reply by email.
Prefer email? Write to erasmus@evec.org.gr
EVEC Microgreens
Effect of Different Substrates and Protected Environments on Growth, Chlorophyll, and Carotenoid Contents of Kale Microgreens and Baby Leaf
Microgreens and baby leaves are increasingly appreciated and consumed due to the increased concentrations of antioxidant compounds, vitamins, nutrients, an
Thaise Dantas, Edílson Costa, João Batista Medeiros Silva, Flávio Ferreira da Silva Binotti, Eduardo Pradi Vendruscolo, Gustavo Haralampidou da Costa Vieira, Fernanda Cristina Silva Ribeiro
International Journal of Agronomy · 2024 · https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/8842753
Abstract
Microgreens and baby leaves are increasingly appreciated and consumed due to the increased concentrations of antioxidant compounds, vitamins, nutrients, and minerals than adult plants. The objective was to evaluate the effect of different substrates and protected environments on the growth of microgreen and baby leaf kale ( Brassica oleracea var. sabellica L.) and their contents of carotenoids and chlorophylls. The experiments were carried out in a completely randomized design in a factorial arrangement of 4 × 2 (four environments × two substrates) for the microgreens and 4 × 5 (four environments × five substrates) for the baby leaf, both with six replications. For microgreens, the Carolina Soil® commercial substrate promoted greater height, fresh matter, dry matter, productivity, chlorophyll a , chlorophyll b , total chlorophyll, and carotenoids in all evaluated environments. In the greenhouse with a screen of 35% shading under the film, greater height, fresh matter, dry matter, and productivity were obtained, and in the greenhouse with a screen of 42/50% shading under the film, higher contents of microgreen chlorophylls and carotenoids were obtained. For baby leaves, the greenhouse with 42/50% shading screen under the film promoted plants with greater height, fresh matter, dry matter, and productivity in all substrates. The baby leaf grown in the greenhouse with a screen of 35% shading under the film showed higher chlorophyll and carotenoid contents in the pure Carolina Soil® substrate. For greater productivity, with higher contents of pigments, greenhouses with screens under the film and the use of organomineral commercial substrate are the most suitable for microgreen and baby leaf kale.
Licence and reuse
| Licence | CC-BY-4.0 |
|---|---|
| May we host this PDF? | Yes |
| May we publish a plain-language summary? | Yes — this licence permits adaptations. |
| Commercial use permitted? | Yes |
| Share-alike required? | No |
How to credit this work
Thaise Dantas; Edílson Costa; João Batista Medeiros Silva; Flávio Ferreira da Silva Binotti; Eduardo Pradi Vendruscolo; Gustavo Haralampidou da Costa Vieira; Fernanda Cristina Silva Ribeiro (2024). Effect of Different Substrates and Protected Environments on Growth, Chlorophyll, and Carotenoid Contents of Kale Microgreens and Baby Leaf. International Journal of Agronomy. https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/8842753 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: Kale microgreens — growing guide
- Related reading: Microgreens and their anti inflammatory antioxidant and preventive potential
- Related reading: Microgreens vs mature versions
- Related reading: The antioxidant capacity of radish microgreens
About this copy
This is a copy of the published article, hosted by EVEC Athens for free educational use under its open licence. The permanent scientific reference is the DOI above. We have not altered the file in any way. If you are an author or rights holder and want this copy removed, please use our notice and takedown procedure. We acknowledge every request within five working days, and act within ten.
Co-funded by the European Union.
This portal presents the microgreens methodology; the organisation behind it is EVEC Athens — the European Voluntary and Educational Center (evec.org.gr). Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
Open licence. Except where stated otherwise, the educational materials on this portal are licensed under CC BY 4.0 — free to use, adapt and share, including commercially, with credit. See the licence terms.
Accessibility. We aim for WCAG 2.1 AA and publish what does and does not yet meet it — see the accessibility statement. If anything here blocks you, tell us and we will send the material in a format that works for you.