Agro-Industrial Compost in Soilless Cultivation Modulates the Vitamin C Content and Phytochemical Markers of Plant Stress in Rocket Salad (Diplotaxis tenuifolia (L.) DC.)

Abstract

Rocket salad is an important vegetable for the ready-to-eat sector, normally cultivated under greenhouse conditions, either in soil or soilless systems. In the latter case, as well as in the nurseries, its cultivation is usually carried out by using peat as a growing medium—a non-renewable substrate—for which it is urgent to find a replacement. Similarly to peat, compost may be used as a growing medium; however, depending on its origin, the chemical and physical characteristics may not bet suitable for plants’ cultivation. In this study, we propose the use of agro-industrial compost as a substitute for peat for rocket salad cultivation. Plants grown in compost, alone or in combination with the second cut of rocket salad, gave better results in several biometric parameters, without negatively affecting yield and dry weight percentage. As a mechanistic approach to further understand how compost can affect plants’ stress, the qualitative profile of phytochemicals (glucosinolates and (poly)phenols)—recognized markers of biotic and abiotic plant stress—were monitored and exhibited a decreasing trend in plants grown using compost relative to those cultivated with peat. The analysis of vitamin C provided information on the achievement of an enhanced concentration by the compost, especially in the second cut. It can be inferred from the results obtained that the compost used as a growing medium may be used as a peat-free substrate for rocket crop cultivation.

Effect of Compost from Cardoon Biomass, as Partial Replacement of Peat, on the Production and Quality of Baby Leaf Lettuce

“…The observed increase in ascorbic acid agrees with previous results in which the ascorbic acid concentration was higher with compost in strawberries, peppers, and rocket salad [82], and in which a cultivar-specific response to lettuce in closed soilless cultivation was found [83]. Ascorbic acid is a potent biological antioxidant involved in both pathogen defense mechanisms and growth modulation via phytohormone signaling [36].…”

“…In the present work, the polyphenol content was in the range of 367.1 to 551.4 mg GAE 100 g −1 f.w., resulting in slightly higher than the ones found by Gimenez et al [73] and Martinez et al [47], taking into account that the average dry matter (d.w.) value found in our samples was 15%. Indeed, these authors reported an average value, respectively, of The observed increase in ascorbic acid agrees with previous results in which the ascorbic acid concentration was higher with compost in strawberries, peppers, and rocket salad [82], and in which a cultivar-specific response to lettuce in closed soilless cultivation was found [83].…”

Biodegradable Food Packaging of Wild Rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia L. [DC.]) and Sea Fennel (Crithmum maritimum L.) Grown in a Cascade Cropping System for Short Food Supply Chain

“…Significant differences in nitrate concentration were found between wild rocket leaves harvested from plants grown in different growing media, with those cultivated in compost having the highest concentrations (Figure 4a). This is not surprising, as the content of total N in compost was four-fold that in peat [25]. The nitrogen in the compost was hence (at least partly) released into the drainage nutrient solution which had, indeed, a nitrate concentration three to four times higher than the drainage obtained from peat (data not shown).…”

“…cv. Apollo]) are described by Signore et al [25]. Briefly, plants were cultivated in metal gutters filled with peat or an agro-industrial compost as growing media.…”

An orchestrated IoT‐based blockchain system to foster innovation in agritech

“…In order to provide a comprehensive understanding of the system, we will apply it to an urban farming research project and will showcase its adaption to this system. The urban farming setting has the goal of optimising the use of hydroponic cascade systems in urban agriculture to crop autochthonous vegetables [34], for example, by diminishing the nutrient load closing nutrient cycles and using compost and its extracts with salt‐tolerant vegetables to qualify the nutritional implications of cascade systems, whilst using friendly packaging for Km0 distribution [35]. Next sections explain the three layers in detail.…”