Feasibility of Microgreens Growth and Quantity of Antioxidant Activity

Abstract

This experiment was to study the feasibility of vegetable microgreens growth and determination quantity of antioxidant activity content. The experimental design was CRD with 3 replications and 5 vegetable cultivars: Chinese cabbage, mustard green, leaf mustard, false pak choi and local mustard green. Grown microgreens in plastic net tray (48x37 cm) which contained the mixed composts of soil and husk (1:2 of ratio). Vegetable seeds (60 g/cultivar/tray) were applied  and harvested at 8 days after seeding.

Results showed microgreens height and fresh weigth of false pak choi (8.56 cm and 0.53 g/seedling) and leaf mustard (6.87 cm and 0.52 g/seedling) highest, and higher than those of Chinese cabbage, mustard green and local mustard green, respectiveley. Total fresh weight microgreens showed in Leaf mustard (284.16 g/m²) and false pak choi (261.26 g/m²) highest, and higher than Chinese cabbage, mustard green and  local mustard green, respectively.

Quantity of antioxidant activity showed highest in False pak choi micrpgreens (75.42%) and Local mustard greens (74.58%), and higher than Chinese cabbage, leaf mustard and mustard green, respectively. On the other hand, total flavonoids content was showed highest in leaf mustard (164.81 mg/g, fw) and local mustard green (149.72 mg/g, fw), and higher than mustard green, false pak choi and Chinese cabbage, respectively.

Concluded that growing vegetable microgreens are height feasibility as commercial and/or healthy consumed due to its short-growth-duration, use less space and low investment, moreover, can be grown as a main work or part time.