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EVEC Microgreens
Optimizing Soilless Media for Superior Microgreen Production and Sensory Acceptance
Microgreens, the young and nutrient-dense shoots of vegetables and herbs, represent a remarkable innovation in both agriculture and culinary arts. This stu
S. Shetty. Sinchana, M. L. Revanna, T. S. Manjunatha Swamy, K. G. Vijayalaxmi
Journal of Scientific Research and Reports · 2024 · https://doi.org/10.9734/jsrr/2024/v30i122708
Abstract
Microgreens, the young and nutrient-dense shoots of vegetables and herbs, represent a remarkable innovation in both agriculture and culinary arts. This study investigates the optimal growing media for microgreens of Red Amaranthus, Fenugreek, and Spinach by comparing cocopeat and cocopeat + vermicompost mixtures. The growth performance, including plant height and yield, was assessed at intervals of 5, 10, and 15 days. Red Amaranthus microgreens showed significantly higher growth in cocopeat-vermicompost (6.66 cm on the 15th day) compared to cocopeat alone (5.03 cm). Similar trends were observed in Fenugreek and Spinach, with the cocopeat-vermicompost mix enhancing both fresh and dried weights. For instance, Fenugreek grown in the mix had a fresh weight of 203.66 g versus 141.33 g in cocopeat. Spinach microgreens followed the same pattern, showing improved growth metrics. The study highlights the superior growth and yield of microgreens in cocopeat-vermicompost due to enhanced nutrient availability. Sensory evaluation by a panel of 99 participants revealed diverse flavor profiles, with Red Amaranthus exhibiting balanced grassy notes and Fenugreek having a strong, intense flavor. Spinach microgreens were milder, making them more palatable to a wider audience. These findings suggest that incorporating vermicompost into the growing medium significantly improves microgreen production and consumer acceptability.
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How to credit this work
S. Shetty. Sinchana; M. L. Revanna; T. S. Manjunatha Swamy; K. G. Vijayalaxmi (2024). Optimizing Soilless Media for Superior Microgreen Production and Sensory Acceptance. Journal of Scientific Research and Reports. https://doi.org/10.9734/jsrr/2024/v30i122708 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: Amaranth microgreens — growing guide
- How to grow it: Fenugreek microgreens — growing guide
- Related reading: Sensory analysis in microgreens why some are spicy others sweet and others taste like fresh grass
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