Figures (0)  Tables (7)
    • Common namez Scientific name Seeding ratesy (g·m−2) Germination percentage 100 Seed weight (g) Harvest date (DAP)
      Basil Ocimum basilicum cv. 'Dark Opal' 75–375 90% 0.12 ± 0.0048 16
      Chives Allium schoenoprasum 75–375 90% 0.13 ± 0.0035 19
      Scallion Allium fistulosum cv. 'Evergreen Hardy White' 75–375 94% 0.24 ± 0.0046 16−18
      Shiso Perilla frutescens var. crispa 75–375 91% 0.44 ± 0.0096 16
      z Seed source of each species is as follows: basil (www.johnnyseeds.com/vegetables/microgreens/microgreen-herbs/basil-dark-opal-microgreen-seed-902M.html); chives (https://trueleafmarket.com/products/chives-microgreens-seeds); scallion (https://www.johnnyseeds.com/vegetables/microgreens/microgreen-vegetables/scallion-evergreen-hardy-white-microgreen-seed-502M.html?); shiso (https://trueleafmarket.com/products/shiso-seeds-perilla-green?jml_clid=123e531c8f6aff4c2a482a5831e44b94c97f3346&aidaptive_cohort=test). y Each microgreen species was grown with five seeding densities including 75, 150, 225, 300, and 375 g·m−2.

      Table 1. 

      Microgreen species, seed sowing rate, germination percentage, hundred-seed weight, and harvest date of four herbal microgreens species.

    • Species Seeding
      density
      (g·m−2)      		 January 2023 February 2023
      Shoot
      heightz,y
      (cm)      		 Visual
      rating
      (1–5)      		 Fresh shoot
      weight
      (g·m−2)      		 Dry shoot
      weight
      (g·m−2)      		 Individual shoot
      weight
      (mg)      		 Shoot
      height
      (cm)      		 Visual
      rating
      (1–5)      		 Fresh shoot
      weight
      (g·m−2)      		 Dry shoot
      weight
      (g·m−2)      		 Individual shoot
      weight
      (mg)
      Basil 75 4.6 b 4.6 a–c 480 l 34.1 l 15.9 e–g 4.4 j 4.3 a–d 455 jk 33.8 j 15.1 c
      150 4.2 a–e 797 i–l 53.9 j–l 14.9 f–h 4.8 ij 4.8 ab 880 g–i 69.0 h–j
      225 3.6 c–f 1,037 g–j 74.3 h–k 15.1 f–h 5.0 h–j 3.9 cd 859 g–k 65.9 h–j
      300 3.0 f 1,505 d–g 120.3 ef 14.6 f–h 4.9 ij 3.7 d 1,291 d–g 91.5 f–h
      375 3.2 ef 1,605 d–f 121.8 ef 15.6 e–h 5.1 h–j 4 b–d 1,459 d–f 112.4 e–g
      Chives 75 8.1 a 3.4 d–f 339 l 34.9 l 11.6 h 5.4 g–i 4 b–d 327 k 36.5 j 10.8 d
      150 4.3 a–d 645 j–l 66.4 i–k 11.6 h 6.5 de 4.8 ab 734 h–k 77.5 g–i
      225 4.2 a–e 1,000 h–k 100.3 f–h 12.2 gh 7.0 cd 4.9 a 1,106 e–h 114.1 e–g
      300 4.7 ab 1,400 e–h 131.5 de 12.8 gh 7.4 c 5 a 1,593 b–e 162.6 b–d
      375 4.5 ab 1,782 de 164.3 bc 12.3 gh 7.5 c 5 a 2,016 bc 193.2 ab
      Scallion 75 8.8 a 3.8 b–f 532 kl 44.9 kl 19.4 de 7.5 c 4 b–d 498 jk 51.3 ij 18.5 b
      150 4.4 a–d 1,066 g–j 86.3 g–i 19.7 de 8.3 b 5 a 1,055 f–i 96.2 f–h
      225 4.6 a–c 1,806 de 143.0 c–e 17.4 d–f 8.8 ab 5 a 1,498 c–f 140.0 de
      300 4.5 a–c 2,386 bc 183.6 b 19.6 de 9.1 a 5 a 2,059 b 179.3 bc
      375 4.7 ab 2,980 a 230.7 a 21.2 d 9.1 a 5 a 2,629 a 227.0 a
      Shiso 75 6.9 ab 4.8 ab 766 j–l 48.0 kl 53.6 a 4.7 j 4.7 a–c 568 i–k 46.4 ij 36.4 a
      150 5.0 a 1,266 f–i 80.6 h–j 45 b 5.5 f–h 5 a 1,109 e–h 83.1 f–i
      225 4.7 ab 1,759 de 114.9 e–g 43 b 5.7 fg 4.8 ab 1,319 d–g 118.2 ef
      300 4.8 ab 1,983 cd 127.7 ef 37.5 c 6.0 e–g 4.8 ab 1,612 b–e 143.4 c–e
      375 4.7 ab 2,595 ab 160.7 b–d 38.4 c 6.1 ef 4.5 a–d 1,706 b–d 163.0 b–d
      p-value Species < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001
      Density 0.15 0.24 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 0.40
      Interaction 0.36 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 0.24
      z Different lower-case letters within a column suggest there is a significant difference among means as indicated by Tukey's HSD at p < 0.05. y Means for a species for shoot height in January, and individual shoot weight in February 2023 were averaged across all five seeding densities and both substrates from a total of 50 data points; and when the interaction between species and seeding density was significant, each mean was sourced from a total of 10 data points from both the jute and peat substrates.

      Table 2. 

      Shoot height, visual rating, fresh and dry shoot weights, and individual shoot weight that varied among species or affected by the interaction between microgreen species and seeding density in two experiments in January and February 2023.

    • Species Substrate January 2023 February 2023
      Shoot
      heightz,y
      (cm)      		 Rating
      (1–5)      		 Fresh shoot
      weight
      (g·m−2)      		 Dry shoot
      weight
      (g·m−2)      		 Individual shoot
      weight
      (mg)      		 Shoot
      height
      (cm)      		 Rating
      (1−5)      		 Fresh shoot
      weight
      (g·m−2)      		 Dry shoot
      weight
      (g·m−2)      		 Individual shoot
      weight
      (mg)
      Basil Peat 4.6 b 2.8 c 1131 c 98.8 c 15.9 de 4.9 e 3.6 b 749 d 74.5 c 16.3 d
      Jute 4.6 a 1,039 cd 62.9 e 14.6 ef 4.8 e 4.6 a 1,229 bc 13.8 e
      Chives Peat 8.1 a 3.7 b 831 d 82.4 d 13.0 fg 7.1 c 4.7 a 1,083 c 116.8 b 11.1 f
      Jute 4.8 a 1,236 c 116.6 b 11.2 g 6.4 d 4.8 a 1,227 c 10.5 f
      Scallion Peat 8.8 a 4.0 b 1,953 a 144.3 a 22.0 c 9.0 a 4.8 a 1,631 a 138.7 a 20.2 c
      Jute 4.8 a 1,555 b 131.1 ab 16.9 d 8.1 b 4.8 a 1,464 ab 16.8 d
      Shiso Peat 6.9 ab 4.6 b 2,124 a 118.3 b 56.1 a 6.2 d 4.6 a 1,525 a 110.8 b 43.2 a
      Jute 4.9 a 1,223 c 94.5 cd 30.9 b 5.0 e 4.9 a 1,000 cd 29.6 b
      p-value Species < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001
      Substrate 0.29 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 0.0006 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 0.72 0.086 < 0.0001
      Interaction 0.58 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 0.51 < 0.0001
      z Different lower-case letters within a column suggest significant difference among means as indicated by Tukey's HSD at p < 0.05. y Means for shoot height in January, and dry shoot weight in February 2023 were averaged across all five seeding densities and both substrate types from a total of 50 data points; and when the interaction between species and substrate type was significant, each mean was sourced from a total of 25 data points averaged across all five seeding densities.

      Table 3. 

      Shoot height, visual rating, fresh and dry shoot weights, and individual shoot weight that varied among species or affected by the interaction between microgreen species and substrate type in January and February 2023.

    • Species Seeding density
      (g·m−2)      		 Nitrogenz,y
      (mg·g−1)      		 Phosphorous
      (mg·g−1)      		 Potassium
      (mg·g−1)      		 Calcium
      (mg·g−1)      		 Magnesium
      (mg·g−1)      		 Sulfur
      (mg·g−1)
      Basil 75 47.95 c−f 9.49 cd 30.28 bc 10.36 b−e 4.37 de 3.67 b−d
      150 52.33 bc 10.01 c 26.66 c−e 10.01 de 4.66 de 3.72 b−d
      225 48.63 c−f 9.29 cd 22.85 d−g 10.42 b−e 4.57 de 3.59 cd
      300 48.71 c−f 8.52 de 18.82 g−j 10.62 b−e 4.21 e 3.50 cd
      375 51.45 b−d 9.81 c 20.35 f−i 10.67 b−e 4.82 d 3.48 cd
      Chive 75 46.43 e−g 5.75 gh 22.29 e−h 10.37 b−e 3.19 f 4.71 a
      150 47.12 d−g 5.32 h 16.78 ij 10.17 de 3.11 f 3.57 cd
      225 51.29 b−e 5.99 gh 17.68 h−j 10.08 de 3.32 f 3.76 b−d
      300 51.46 bc−d 6.05 gh 16.47 ij 10.39 b−e 3.42 f 3.77 b−d
      375 52.37 bc 5.47 h 13.82 j 9.422 e 3.20 f 3.34 d
      Scallion 75 42.97 g 7.48 ef 33.78 b 12.33 a 4.35 de 4.37 ab
      150 44.23 fg 7.22 f 26.80 c−e 11.35 a−d 4.37 de 4.16 a−c
      225 46.58 d−g 7.37 ef 25.82 c−e 10.51 b−e 4.30 de 3.68 b−d
      300 46.47 e−g 7.38 ef 22.20 e−h 10.36 b−e 4.49 de 3.17 d
      375 46.61 d−g 6.86 fg 18.63 g−j 10.29 c−e 4.70 de 3.50 cd
      Shiso 75 49.46 b-−e 12.11 b 39.01 a 11.88 ab 4.62 de 2.22 e
      150 52.53 bc 11.97 b 30.16 bc 11.07 a−d 5.75 c 2.12 e
      225 54.31 ab 12.73 ab 27.69 cd 11.47 a−d 6.26 c 2.21 e
      300 57.55 a 13.12 ab 24.90 d−f 11.06 a−d 7.38 b 2.28 e
      375 58.27 a 13.71 a 24.63 d−f 11.83 a−c 8.00 a 2.28 e
      p-value Species < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001
      Seeding density < 0.0001 0.32 < 0.0001 0.0086 < 0.0001 < 0.0001
      Interaction 0.0001 0.0002 0.0004 0.0009 < 0.0001 < 0.0001
      z Different lower-case letters within a column suggest there is a significant difference among means as indicated by Tukey's HSD at p < 0.05. y Each mean was sourced from a total of 10 data points from both the jute and peat substrates.

      Table 4. 

      Nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur concentrations as affected by the species and seeding density interaction in January 2023.

    • Species Seeding density
      (g·m−2)      		 Nitrogenz,y
      (mg·g−1)      		 Phosphorous
      (mg·g−1)      		 Potassium
      (mg·g−1)      		 Calcium
      (mg·g−1)      		 Magnesium
      (mg·g−1)      		 Sulfur
      (mg·g−1)
      Basil 75 41.57 i−k 12.23 a 40.82 a 13.51 ab 5.59 a 2.86 a−e
      150 41.74 h−k 11.39 ab 31.91 ab 13.95 a 5.46 a 2.67 b−e
      225 43.07 g−j 11.13 ab 28.37 ab 13.22 ab 5.46 a 3.26 a−c
      300 42.29 h−k 11.13 ab 25.96 ab 14.05 a 5.50 a 3.29 a−c
      375 41.99 h−k 10.55 b 24.49 b 14.19 a 5.44 a 3.30 a−c
      Chive 75 44.54 f−i 6.23 cd 23.66 cd 11.64 bc 3.50 e 2.69 b−e
      150 48.01 c−f 6.28 cd 20.74 cd 11.13 c 3.54 e 2.96 a−d
      225 50.47 a−c 6.57 c 20.10 c 10.49 c−e 3.51 e 3.30 a−c
      300 48.64 b−e 6.09 cd 16.32 cd 10.47 c−e 3.38 e 3.05 a−d
      375 52.45 a 6.69 c 17.65 c 9.96 c−f 3.47 e 3.15 a−c
      Scallion 75 37.15 l 5.76 cd 27.93 cd 8.68 d−g 3.62 de 3.30 a−c
      150 38.70 kl 5.63 cd 25.35 cd 8.96 d−g 3.68 de 3.57 ab
      225 40.30 j−l 5.80 cd 18.42 cd 7.39 g 3.72 de 3.82 a
      300 46.54 d−g 4.99 cd 15.75 d 8.35 fg 3.50 e 3.73 a
      375 45.35 e−h 6.27 d 15.07 cd 8.52 e−g 4.17 cd 1.92 e
      Shiso 75 43.71 g−j 11.96 a 38.74 ab 10.61 cd 4.67 bc 2.38 c−e
      150 47.81 c−f 11.67 ab 31.15 cd 10.31 c−f 5.13 ab 2.15 de
      225 50.27 a−c 11.52 ab 27.37 c−f 9.81 c−f 5.37 a 2.15 de
      300 49.40 a−d 11.44 ab 25.64 c−g 10.04 c−f 5.57 a 2.12 de
      375 52.07 ab 10.37 b 18.33 h−j 8.66 d−g 5.35 a 1.90 e
      p-value Species < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001
      Seeding density < 0.0001 0.0087 < 0.0001 0.0019 0.045 0.0004
      Interaction < 0.0001 0.0002 0.0003 0.047 0.0001 < 0.0001
      z Different lower-case letters within a column suggest there is a significant difference among means as indicated by Tukey's HSD at p < 0.05. y Each mean was sourced from a total of 10 data points from both the jute and peat substrates.

      Table 5. 

      Nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur concentrations as affected by the species and seeding density interaction in February 2023.

    • Species Substrate Nitrogenz,y (mg·g−1) Phosphorous (mg·g−1) Potassium (mg·g−1) Calcium (mg·g−1) Magnesium (mg·g−1) Sulfur (mg·g−1)
      Basil Peat 40.56 e 8.60 d 27.73 c 12.36 b 4.02 d 4.11 c
      Jute 59.07 a 10.24 c 19.85 e 8.47 e 5.03 b 3.08 d
      Chive Peat 42.32 de 5.48 f 22.49 d 11.29 c 2.97 f 4.99 b
      Jute 57.14 a 5.96 ef 12.32 f 8.88 de 3.53 e 2.67 e
      Scallion Peat 43.50 d 8.10 d 39.20 b 12.44 b 4.55 c 5.37 a
      Jute 47.24 c 6.43 e 11.96 f 9.50 d 4.33 c 2.19 f
      Shiso Peat 49.76 b 14.50 a 47.84 a 13.33 a 7.88 a 3.05 d
      Jute 59.09 a 10.96 b 10.71 f 9.60 d 4.92 b 1.39 g
      p-value Species < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001
      Substrate < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001
      Interaction < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 0.0003 < 0.0001 < 0.0001
      z Different lower-case letters within a column suggest there is a significant difference among means as indicated by Tukey's HSD at p < 0.05. y Each mean was sourced from a total of 25 data points averaged across all five seeding densities.

      Table 6. 

      Nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur concentrations as affected by the species and substrate type interaction in January 2023.

    • Species Substrate Nitrogenz,y (mg·g−1) Phosphorous (mg·g−1) Potassium (mg·g−1) Calcium (mg·g−1) Magnesium (mg·g−1) Sulfur (mg·g−1)
      Basil Peat 35.75 e 11.08 b 38.28 b 15.57 a 5.07 c 3.60 b
      Jute 48.51 b 11.49 b 22.38 d 12.00 b 5.91 b 2.59 cd
      Chive Peat 45.04 c 6.37 d 26.01 c 11.06 c 3.18 f 3.84 ab
      Jute 52.06 a 6.38 d 13.38 e 10.41 c 3.78 e 2.22 d
      Scallion Peat 37.82 d 5.80 de 27.35 c 9.00 d 3.66 e 4.06 a
      Jute 45.40 c 5.58 e 13.65 e 7.76 e 3.82 e 2.47 d
      Shiso Peat 45.27 c 13.59 a 47.79 a 12.06 b 6.32 a 3.03 c
      Jute 52.03 a 9.20 c 8.70 f 7.72 e 4.12 d 1.25 e
      p-value Species < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001
      Substrate < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 0.0073 < 0.0001
      Interaction < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 < 0.0001 0.0069
      z Different lower-case letters within a column suggest there is a significant difference among means as indicated by Tukey's HSD at p < 0.05. y Each mean was sourced from a total of 25 data points averaged across all five seeding densities.

      Table 7. 

      Nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur concentrations as affected by the species and substrate type interaction in February 2023.