Sole-Source LED Lighting and Fertility Impact Shoot and Root Tissue Mineral Elements in Chinese Kale (Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra)

Abstract

The current study investigated the impacts of light quality and different levels of fertility on mineral nutrient concentrations in the shoot and root tissues of Chinese kale (Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra). “Green Lance” Chinese kale was grown under: (1) fluorescent/incandescent light; (2) 10% blue (447 ± 5 nm)/90% red (627 ± 5 nm) light emitting diode (LED) light; (3) 20% blue/80% red LED light; and (4) 40% blue/60% red LED light as sole-source lighting at two different levels of fertility. All plants were harvested 30 days after seeding and shoot and root tissues were analyzed for mineral nutrients. Lighting and fertility interacted to influence kale shoot and root mineral nutrient concentrations. The results indicate that sole-source LED lighting used in production can impact the mineral nutritional values of baby leafy greens now popular for the packaged market. This is evident in the current and previous studies in which lighting affects biomass and indirectly affects mineral nutrient concentrations.