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- Title
Reusing Coir-Based Substrates for Lettuce Growth: Nutrient Content and Phytonutrients Accumulation.
- Authors
Machado, Rui M. A.; Alves-Pereira, Isabel; Alves, Inês; Ferreira, Rui M. A.; Gruda, Nazim S.
- Abstract
This research aimed to assess the influence of reusing coir-based substrates on growth, nutrient content, and phytonutrients accumulation in lettuce. The experiment included a new coir pith and four coir-based mixes (1) coir, biochar, and perlite; (2) coir, compost, and perlite; (3) coir, biochar, and pine bark; and (4) coir, compost, and pine bark. All mixes had been previously utilized to grow transplanted spinach and possessed identical ratios of 78:12:10% (v/v) among their components. Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. cv. 'Godzilla') seedlings were transplanted into Styrofoam plant boxes. Each day, the planting boxes received a nutrient solution via drip irrigation. Plants grown in reused mixes had similar macronutrient concentrations as those grown in coir for the first time, except for N and K in the third mix. Plants grown in reused mixtures had similar yields as those in new coir. Lettuce heads yielded 4.6–4.9 kg/m2, while plants grown in reused mixtures had equal or higher total phenols than those in new coir. Ascorbic acid content was higher in plants cultivated in reused mixes. Coir-based growing media can be reused for another short-cycle crop, like lettuce, without yield loss or phytonutrients decrease.
- Subjects
CULTIVATED plants; LETTUCE; CONTAINER gardening; PHYTONUTRIENTS; BOXWOOD; MICROIRRIGATION
- Publication
Horticulturae, 2023, Vol 9, Issue 10, p1080
- ISSN
2311-7524
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3390/horticulturae9101080