Yield and quality of Corchorus olitorius baby leaf grown in a floating system
2016
Giro, Andrea | Ferrante, Antonio
Corchorus olitorius is mainly cultivated in Africa and is used in the human diet for its nutraceutical proprieties. In this work, C. olitorius was grown in a floating system using a standard (NS100%) or halved (NS50%) nutrient solution. Yield was evaluated at harvest when plants reached the baby leaf stage. Quality of leaves was estimated by measuring sugars, nitrate, chlorophylls, carotenoids, polyphenols, and anthocyanins. Yield was similar to other common leafy vegetables cultivated in floating systems. Analytical determinations showed good levels of antioxidant compounds and sugars. Mineral contents were relevant for Ca, Mg and Fe in comparison with C. olitorius cultivated in soil and other common leafy vegetables. Results showed these plants had healthy characteristics for human nutrition, in particular for women and children. C. olitorius had a good performance in the floating system with yield ranging from 0.8 to 2.4 kg m⁻². Mineral nutrient levels were higher than in the major leafy vegetables. Nutrient solutions influenced anthocyanin accumulation (+37% in NS50% in spring and +48% in NS50% in summer). Leaf nitrate content was –50% in NS50% at spring cultivation. The overall quality parameters suggest that C. olitorius can be an optimal candidate for baby leaf production in the fresh cut leafy vegetable industry.
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