Unlocking Parsley's Nutritional Potential: A Comparative Study Of Hydroponic And Soil-Based Cultivation Systems Across Diverse Genotypes

Abstract

Hydroponic farming systems have gained attention for their potential to enhance crop nutritional quality and yield. The present study investigates the nutritional composition of seven parsley genotypes cultivated under hydroponic NFT (Nutrient Film Technique) and polyhouse conditions. The experimentation was designed in randomized block design (RBD). Our results shows that hydroponic NFT system significantly improves the nutritional parameters of parsley, including protein content (up to 14.50% in genotype Giant Plain), iron content (ranging from 794.80 to 1541.80 mg/kg), and vitamin C levels (up to 1676.21 mg/kg in genotype Giant Plain), compared to polyhouse conditions. The minerals content i.e., iron in genotype Gigante Italian (1541.80±2.59 mg/kg) and calcium content in Forest Green (3.62±0.32 %) was highest under hydroponic farming system. The hydroponic NFT system produces higher protein content, iron content, and vitamin C levels, making it a promising approach for addressing micronutrient deficiencies. The improved nutritional quality in NFT system may be attributed to optimized nutrient delivery and uptake. FTIR spectroscopy analysis reveals the presence of different functional groups such as C-H stretching, C=C stretching, alkanes, alkenes and aromatic compounds in different genotypes and farming systems. Overall, this study highlights the potential of NFT farming system for producing nutrient-rich parsley, with implications for improving food security and nutritional quality.