Overview of Multiple Applications of Basil Species and Cultivars and the Effects of Production Environmental Parameters on Yields and Secondary Metabolites in Hydroponic Systems

Teodor Rusu,Bhim Bahadur Ghaley,Mihai Avram Maxim,Reed John Cowden,Paula Ioana Moraru

doi:10.3390/su132011332

Abstract

Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.), including other species and cultivars, is an excellent source of nutritional compounds, the accumulation of which can be stimulated by exogenous factors (environmental and nutritional conditions). Although best practices are relatively established for mature basil plants, microgreens production requires further research to optimize quality and quantity. The study objectives are (i) to provide an overview of the many uses of basil, (ii) collate and present common hydroponic systems available in the market, (iii) review effects of key production environment parameters on basil yields in hydroponic systems, and (iv) summarize the effects of the growth environments on yield quantity and quality of basil microgreens. The paper analyzes in detail key production parameters of basil microgreens in hydroponic systems, such as temperature, humidity, pH, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrient solutions, and the influence of light (quantity, quality, and photoperiods). The collated literature review has shown that basil, grown hydroponically, can tolerate high variations of environmental parameters: pH 5.1–8.5, temperature 15–24 °C, relative humidity 60–70%, electrical conductivity up to 1.2 mS cm−1, depending on the developmental stage, dissolved oxygen at 4 mg L−1 (optimally 6.5 mg L−1), and light intensity between 200 and 400 μmol m−2 s−1. The study has synthesized an overview of different production parameters to provide guidance on the optimization of environmental conditions to ensure the quantity and quality production of basil microgreens. Improving the quality of basil microgreens can ideally spur continued gastronomic interest in microgreens in general, which will encourage more entrepreneurs to grow basil and other microgreens. Hence, the study findings are a great resource to learn about the effects of different environments on basil microgreen production. This information can inform research for successful production of different species and cultivars of basil microgreens, and establishing testing protocols to improve the quantity and quality of the harvest.

Highlights

IntroductionBy 2050 it is estimated that the human population of the Earth will be approximately
The review of the literature and data collection used a number of keywords relevant for the production of basil microgreens in hydroponic systems, such as: temperature, humidity, pH, electrical conductivity, oxygen dissolved in water, carbon dioxide, nutrient solutions, and the influence of light
The literature review undertaken here has demonstrated that the production of basil microgreens using hydroponic systems must be organized with care for controlling the many environmental and production parameters to achieve desired outputs that are of adequate quality. This is in comparison to more conventional production methods using soil, considering all the controllable factors in hydroponic systems that have been shown to influence the accumulation of bioactive substances, the harvest timeframe, and the quality of the finished product

Summary

Introduction

By 2050 it is estimated that the human population of the Earth will be approximately. 10 billion people [1]. Meeting the caloric and nutritional needs of this growing population is a large challenge for humanity. The growing population based on urban agglomeration, in combination with limited natural resources and global warming, increases the severity of this challenge by posing a threat to food safety globally [2]. Conventional agriculture is ill-suited to meet this challenge, as it has negative impacts on the environment, inefficient use of a large quantity of water, high concentrations of nutrients and pesticides in water runoff, high greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and increases soil degradation and erosion. In order to improve input use efficiencies and mitigate greenhouse

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Conclusion