Rocket microgreen cultivation under seeding densities and nutrient solution concentrations

Abstract

The consumption of leafy vegetables, such as microgreens, has increased. However, its cultivation still lacks management information. This study evaluated rocket microgreen cultivation under seeding densities and nutrient solution concentrations. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design in split-plot, which consisted of five irrigation treatments in the main plots: supply water with electrical conductivity – EC of 0.3 dS m^-1; nutrient solutions with EC of 0.6 and 1.2 dS m^-1 at 50 and 100% concentrations of “Flex mudas 1” and “Flex mudas 2” Plantpar^® compounds; nutrient solutions with EC of 0.5 and 1.0 dS m^-1 at 25 and 50% concentrations, as recommended by Furlani. Densities of five or ten seeds per 2×2×2 cm cell were used as a subplot. Microgreens were cultivated for 14 days, analyzing seedling height, seedling fresh matter (SFM), seedling dry matter (SDM), water use efficiency of SFM and SDM, seedling water content, seed mass to produce 1 kg of SFM, and sodium, potassium, and chloride contents in seedlings. The highest production and potassium accumulation in rocket microgreens occurred under higher solution EC levels (1.0 and 1.2 dS m^-1) produced with different formulations. Microgreens showed higher yield with 10 seeds cell^-1.