Page 37 - CSHS 2022 Book of Abstracts - 2022-08-22 web version
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CSHS 2022 Conference


             (VO.4) Effects of different Proportions of Rock dust-based Growing Media for Vegetables
             Gift Anyanwu , Raymond H. Thomas , Lakshman Galagedara , Cheema Mumtaz , Lord Abbey
                          ¹*
                                                                                                         2
                                                 ¹
                                                                                            ¹
                                                                         ¹
             1. Boreal Ecosystem and Agricultural Sciences, School of Science and the Environment, Memorial University of
             Newfoundland, St John’s, NL; 2. Department of Plant, Food, and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture,
             Dalhousie University, Bible Hill, NS
             ________________
             Rock dust (RD) is a waste product from the mining industry, which is known to have the potential to enhance
             growing media physical and chemical properties. A study was carried out to develop a RD-based growing media
             with different proportions of biochar, compost and Promix-BX and to determine their effects on the agronomic
             performance and sensory quality of kale (Brassica oleracea var. sabellica) and carrot (Daucus carota) in a controlled
             environment. The treatments formulated were 50% RD + 25% compost + 25% Promix-BX (R50C25P25), 25% RD +
             25% biochar + 25% compost + 25% Promix-BX (R25B25C25P25), 40% RD + 25% biochar + 25% compost + 10%
             Promix-BX (R40B25C25P10), 5% RD + 25% biochar + 25% compost + 45% Promix-BX (R5B25C25P45), 50% RD +
             25% biochar + 25% Promix-BX (R50B25P25) and Promix (control). Result showed that R50C25P25 and
             R25B25C25P25 had significantly (p<0.005) higher plant height, number of leaves, stem diameter and yield than the
             control. Plants grown in R50B25P25 had significantly (p<0.01) higher chlorophyll content than the control at 30%
             and 75% respectively in both kale and carrot leaves. About 94% of participants in the sensory evaluation agreed
             that carrot grown in R5B25C25P45 was juicier and the control plants were the least preferred. This suggests a
             possible influence of the superior bulk density, porosity and nutrient composition of RD enhancing the plant’s ability
             to take up more water and nutrients. Overall, the results show that optimized RD could provide an economical
             means of crop production and encourage recycle and use of RD in agriculture.


             (VO.5) Yield and Quality of Microgreens in Response to Different Growing Medium Formulations
             Roksana Saleh*, Raymond H. Thomas, Lord Abbey
             Department of Plant, Food, and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University, Bible Hill, NS
             ________________
             Microgreens are immature tender young seedlings with high nutritional benefit that can be altered by growing
             medium properties. A study was conducted to assess the effects of different mixed growing media on the yield and
             quality of two microgreens species: namely, Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris var. cicla) and pak choi (Brassica rapa var.
             chinensis). The treatments were T1: 30%vermicast+30%sawdust+10%perlite+30%PittMoss; T2:
             30%vermicast+30% sawdust+10% perlite+30%mushroom compost; T3: 30%vermicast+20%sawdust+20%
             perlite+30% PittMoss; T4: 30%vermicast+20%sawdust+20%perlite+30%mushroom compost; PC (positive
             control): Promix BX™ potting medium. It was shown that the yield of the microgreens was statistically enhanced in
             all the mixed media containing mushroom compost compared to those containing PittMoss. Yield indices was
             approximately three times higher in T4 compared to the control. Photosynthetic pigments and secondary
             metabolites of tested microgreens were statistically different in the different mixed media. The chlorophyll and
             carotenoid content of microgreens treated with T1 and T4 were respectively 1.6 and 1.5-fold higher than PC. The
             Swiss chard sugar content was unaffected by the differences in growing media formulation. An elevated pak choi
             sugar content was observed in T4. Moreover, enhanced protein content in Swiss chard (7431.94 μg Bovine/g) and
             pak choi (4570.62 μg Bovine/g) were observed in T1 and T4, respectively compared to the other media.
             Furthermore, total phenolics was 1.2 times higher in microgreens grown in T1 compared to those grown in the PC.
             Overall, T4 followed by T1 potentially enhanced the yield of microgreens and their edible qualities. Future studies
             will assess microgreens nutrients uptake in different mixed growing media.







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