Effects of compost and compost water extract derived from agricultural wastes on yield and nutritional composition of Lepidium sativum microgreens

Year 2026, Volume: 19 Issue: 1, 25 - 35, 16.02.2026

Faik Ceylan , Recai Arslan , Çağlar Akçay

https://doi.org/10.46309/biodicon.2026.1796380

https://izlik.org/JA45FE94FW

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the yield, chlorophyll and carotenoid content, and nutritional profile of Lepidium sativum microgreens cultivated with compost, compost water extract, and peat.
Method: Control (100% peat), C100 (100% compost), C50 (50% peat+50% compost), C25 (75% peat+25% compost), and WE100 (100% water extract), WE50 (50% water extract), and WE25 (25% water extract) obtained from compost were used for cultivation of L. sativum microgreens under LED (light-emitting diode) light source. Fresh weight of shoot (mg/shoot), fresh yield (kg/m2), dry biomass (g/m2), and chlorophyll, carotenoid, and nutrition element content of microgreens were measured. Estimated daily intake (EDI) of macro- and microelements of microgreens was calculated.
Findings: While the highest mean fresh weight of shoot of L. sativum microgreens was measured as 27.65 mg/shoot in media of C50, the highest fresh yield and dry biomass of microgreens were measured as 1.870 kg/m2 and 94.81 g/m2 in media of WE50. Chlorophyll a content of microgreens cultivated in C100, C25, and WE100 was significantly lower than control (P<0.01, P<0.01, and P<0.05, respectively). Total chlorophyll content of microgreens in C25, rather than other media, was significantly lower compared to control (P<0.05). Chlorophyll b and carotenoid contents in all media were not significantly different compared to those of control. N content of L. sativum microgreens cultivated in WE100 was significantly higher than control at the significant level of P<0.05. Contents of Mg, Zn, and Na of microgreens of WE100 were lower compared to those of control at the significant levels of P<0.01, P<0.01, and P<0.0001, respectively. There was not any significant difference in contents of P, K, S, Ca, Fe, Mn, and Cu between microgreens of control and WE100. Total phenol content of microgreens in WE100 was higher than control at the significant level of P<0.05.
Conclusion: There was a very low effect of application of compost water extract on nutrient elements of L. sativum microgreens. Their applications increased the yield of L. sativum microgreens. The use of compost for higher yields of L. sativum microgreens for substitution of peat was very attendant regarding limiting the use of peat materials.

Keywords

compost , water extract , microgreens , Lepidium sativum , nutrition elements

Ethical Statement

This study does not require ethical approval.

Supporting Institution

There in no supporting institution

Tarımsal atıklardan üretilen kompost ve kompost sulu özütünün Lepidium sativum mikroyeşilliklerinin verim ve besinsel içeriği üzerindeki etkileri

https://izlik.org/JA45FE94FW

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı kompost, kompost sulu ekstraktı ve torf ile yetiştirilen Lepidium sativum mikroyeşilliklerinin verim, klorofil ve karotenoid içeriğini ve besin profilini değerlendirmektir.
Metod: Kontrol (100% torf), C100 (100% kompost), C50 (50% torf + %50 kompost), C25 (75% torf + %25 kompost) ve komposttan elde edilen WE100 (100% sulu özüt), WE50 (50% sulu özüt) ve WE25 (25% sulu özüt), L. sativum mikroyeşilliklerinin LED ışık kaynağı altında yetiştirilmesi için kullanılmıştır. Mikroyeşilliklerin taze sürgün ağırlığı (mg/sürgün), taze verimi (kg/m2), kuru biyokütlesi (g/m2), ve klorofil, karotenoid, ve besin elementi içeriği, ölçülmüştür. Makro ve mikro elementlerin tahmini günlük alımları hesaplanmıştır.
Bulgular: L. sativum mikroyeşilliklerinin en yüksek taze sürgün ağırlığı 27.65 mg/sürgün olarak C50’de, en yüksek taze verim ve kuru biyokütlesi sırasıyla 1.870 kg/m2 and 94.81 g/m2 olarak WE50’de ölçülmüştür. C100, C25, ve WE100’de yetiştirilen mikroyeşilliklerin klorofil a içerikleri kontrole kıyasla sırasıyla P<0.01, P<0.01, ve P<0.05 anlamlılık seviyelerinde düşük bulunmuştur. Diğer bitki yetiştirme ortamlarından ziyade C25’deki mikroyeşilliklerin toplam klorofil içeriği anlamlı ölçüde düşük bulunmuştur (P<0.05). Tüm bitki yetiştirme ortamlarında klorofil a ve karotenoid içerikleri kontrole kıyasla istatistiksel olarak önemsiz ölçüde farklı bulunmuştur. WE100’de yetiştirilen mikroyeşilliklerin N içeriği P<0.05 anlamlılık seviyesinde kontrole göre yüksek bulunmuştur. WE100’deki mikroyeşilliklerin Mg, Zn, ve Na içerikleri kontrole kıyasla sırasıyla P<0.01, P<0.01, ve P<0.0001 anlamlılık seviyelerinde düşük bulunmuştur. Kontrol ve WE100’ün mikroyeşilliklerinin P, K, S, Ca, Fe, Mn, ve Cu içeriklerinde istatistiksel olarak anlamlı farklılık tespit edilmemiştir. WE100’deki mikroyeşilliklerin toplam fenol içeriği kontrole kıyasla P<0.05 anlam seviyesinde yüksek olduğu tespit edilmiştir.
Sonuç: L. sativum mikroyeşilliklerinin besin elementleri üzerinde kompost sulu özütü uygulamasının düşük etkisinin olduğu görülmüştür. Fakat bu uygulamalar L. sativum mikroyeşilliklerinin verimini arttırmıştır. Torfun muadili olarak daha yüksek verimli L. sativum mikroyeşillikler için kompost kullanımı torf materyallerinin kullanımının azaltılması noktasında son derece dikkat çekicidir.

Keywords

kompost , sulu özüt , mikroyeşillik , Lepidium sativum , besin elementleri

Ethical Statement

Bu çalışmada herhangi bir etik izne ihtiyaç yoktur.

Supporting Institution

Herhangi bir destekleyen kuruluş bulunmamaktadır.

References

• [1] Pinto, E., Almeida, A. A., Aguiar, A. A., & Ferreira, I. M. P. L. V. O. (2015). Comparison between the mineral profile and nitrate content of microgreens and mature lettuces. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 37(3), 38–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2014.06.018
• [2] Partap, M., Sharma, D., HN, D., Thakur, M., Verma, V., Ujala, & Bhargava, B. (2023). Microgreen: A tiny plant with superfood potential. Journal of Functional Foods, 107, 105697. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2023.105697
• [3] Tallei, T. E., Kepel, B. J., Wungouw, H. I. S., Nurkolis, F., Adam, A. A., & Fatimawali. (2024). A comprehensive review on the antioxidant activities and health benefits of microgreens: current insights and future perspectives. International Journal of Food Science and Technology, 59(1), 58–71. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijfs.16805
• [4] Chrysargyris, A., Antoniou, O., Athinodorou, F., Vassiliou, R., Papadaki, A., & Tzortzakis, N. (2019). Deployment of olive-stone waste as a substitute growing medium component for Brassica seedling production in nurseries. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 26(35), 35461–35472. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-04261-8
• [5] Gruda, N. S. (2020). Increasing sustainability of growing media constituents and stand-alone substrates in soilless culture systems. Agronomy, 9(6), 298. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10091384
• [6] Değirmenci, L., Kaygusuz İzgördü, Ö., & Darcan, C. (2024). Isolation and Characterization of Microorganisms for Use with Manure and Chemical Fertilizers. Biological Diversity and Conservation, 17(1), 91–98. https://doi.org/10.46309/biodicon.2023.1226337
• [7] Ceylan, F. (2024). Effects of composts obtained from hazelnut wastes on the cultivation of pepper (Capsicum annuum) seedlings. Scientific Reports, 14, 3019. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-53638-4
• [8] Işık, S., Sülük, K., Moreira, J., & Topalcengiz, Z. (2025). Assessment of vermicompost compositions containing cattle, sheep, and poultry manures for contamination risk of microgreens by foodborne pathogens. Food Microbiology, 132, 104842. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fm.2025.104842
• [9] Poudel, P., Duenas, A. E. K., & Di Gioia, F. (2023). Organic waste compost and spent mushroom compost as potential growing media components for the sustainable production of microgreens. Frontiers in Plant Science, 14, 1229157. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1229157
• [10] Thepsilvisut, O., Sukree, N., Chutimanukul, P., Athinuwat, D., Chuaboon, W., Poomipan, P., … Ehara, H. (2023). Efficacy of Agricultural and Food Wastes as the Growing Media for Sunflower and Water Spinach Microgreens Production. Horticulturae, 9(8), 876. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9080876
• [11] Harvard, T. H., & Chan, S. O. H. (2025). The nutrition source. Retrieved from https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/vitamins/
• [12] Zucconi, F., Forte, M., Monac, A., & De Beritodi, M. (1981). Biological evaluation of compost maturity. Biocycle, 22, 27–29.
• [13] Ceylan, F., Arslan, R., & Akçay, Ç. (2025). Biodegradation of Some Lignocellulosic Wastes during Composting and Their Valorization as Plant Growth Media. Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, 25, 6902–6915. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-025-02570-1
• [14] Di Gioia, F., Hong, J. C., Pisani, C., Petropoulos, S. A., Bai, J., & Rosskopf, E. N. (2023). Yield performance, mineral profile, and nitrate content in a selection of seventeen microgreen species. Frontiers in Plant Science, 14, 1220691. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1220691
• [15] Signore, A., Somma, A., Leoni, B., & Santamaria, P. (2024). Optimising Sowing Density for Microgreens Production in Rapini, Kale and Cress. Horticulturae, 10(3), 274. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10030274
• [16] Lerma-Moliz, R., Hu, J., López-González, J. A., Suárez-Estrella, F., Martínez-Gallardo, M. R., Jurado, M. M., … López, M. J. (2025). Aqueous compost extracts with stabilized biofertilizing microbiota promote plant root growth and drought resilience. Science of the Total Environment, 974, 179157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.179157
• [17] Ardashiri, M., & Zare-Bavani, M. R. (2025). Effects of Two Types of Seaweed Extract on Garden Cress Microgreen Characteristics and Essential Oil Compounds. International Journal of Horticultural Science and Technology, 12(1), 267–280. https://doi.org/10.22059/IJHST.2024.373859.800
• [18] Amitrano, C., De Francesco, S., Durante, M., Tinganelli, W., Arena, C., & De Micco, V. (2024). Morphological and Photosynthetic Pigment Screening of Four Microgreens Species Exposed to Heavy Ions. Plants, 13(24), 3541. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13243541
• [19] Hassan, L., Hassan, S., Hashim, T., Umar, K., & Sani, N. (2012). Determination of Nutritive Values of Garden Cress (Lepidium sativum L.) Leaves. Bayero Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences, 4(2), 18–23. https://doi.org/10.4314/bajopas.v4i2.4
• [20] Jambor, T., Zajickova, T., Arvay, J., Ivanisova, E., Tirdilova, I., Knizatova, N., … Lukac, N. (2022). Exceptional Properties of Lepidium sativum L. Extract and Its Impact on Cell Viability, Ros Production, Steroidogenesis, and Intracellular Communication in Mice Leydig Cells In Vitro. Molecules, 27(16), 5127. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27165127
• [21] Gupta, S., & Gupta, R. (2025). Phytochemical analysis and antioxidant evaluation of methanolic extracts from Lepidium sativum seeds and Averrhoa carambola fruits: A comparative analysis. International Journal of Secondary Metabolite, 12(3), 604–614. https://doi.org/10.21448/ijsm.1574497