Abstract
Hydroponically-grown produce may be a way of helping to feed the world a variety of fruits and vegetables, regardless of soil quality, space availability or climate. The objective of this study was to determine whether hydroponicallygrown lettuce contains as much ascorbic acid and tocopherol as soil-grown lettuce. We analyzed four varieties of lettuce, including: Waldmann’s Dark Green, Red Lollo Antago, Red Romaine Annapolis, and Butterleaf. The tocopherol content of hydroponically-grown Waldmann’s Dark Green, Red Lollo Antago, and Red Romaine Annapolis was 229%, 497% and 492% higher, respectively, compared to their soil-grown counterpart. The ascorbic acid content of hydroponically-grown Waldmann’s Dark Green, Red Lollo Antago, and Red Romaine Annapolis was 93%, 171% and 216% higher, respectively, compared to their soil-grown counterparts. Hydroponically grown lettuce varieties are significantly higher in both ascorbic acid and tocopherol content than their soil-grown counterparts, and hydroponic gardening is a viable option for producing nutritious fruits and vegetables.
Highlights
Hydroponics offer a possible solution to a multitude of world hunger issues, from lack of farmable land to lowering transportation costs
Red Lollo Antago and Red Romaine Annapolis are red-leafed lettuces found to be redder in the hydroponic condition than the soil condition
Red Lollo Antago contained the highest concentration of tocopherol, with the hydroponically-grown at 492% more than soil-grown
Summary
Hydroponics offer a possible solution to a multitude of world hunger issues, from lack of farmable land to lowering transportation costs. Few studies have been conducted to compare the nutritional quality of these two growing methods, and even fewer within the same produce species. Bioactive compounds are a fast rising topic of study. Bioactive compounds function as antioxidants and help protect against oxidation-causing diseases, including cardiovascular disease and cancer [1]. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) began investigating the use of hydroponics for cultivation of crops in space as far back as 1945 [2]. Are they useful for recycling oxygen, but provide a food source for very long space voyages [2]
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