Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
The intensification of horticultural crops cultivation makes urgent the seeking for alternative growth
substrates that could substitute non-renewable and/or synthetic growing media, such as peat and rock
wool. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential use of byproducts from two industrial
crops commonly cultivated in the Mediterranean basin, namely cardoon and cotton, as growth substrates
for Cichorium spinosum, while zeolite addition was also tested as a soil amendment. A pot experiment
was carried for two consecutive growing periods and plant growth was evaluated for six growing media
compositions, while plant extracts were also evaluated in terms of their phenolic compounds profile,
antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. The results of this study showed that cotton byproducts and
zeolite may partially substitute peat in growth substrate of C. spinosum and high yields comparable to
peat may be achieved. Phenolic compounds content and antioxidant activity of leaves' extracts was
higher for plants grown in soil which showed severe stress symptoms comparing to the other tested
substrate blends. Antimicrobial activity was also affected by growth substrate composition, only in the
case of antibacterial properties of leaves' extracts, whereas none of the extracts presented significant
antifungal activities. In conclusion, the use of cotton ginning byproducts and zeolite in growth substrate
blends may partially substitute conventional substrates as peat in horticultural crops production,
resulting in reduction of production cost and lessening of bulky byproducts’ management and related
environmental burden without compromising yield.
Description
Keywords
Antimicrobial properties Antioxidant activity Circular economy Cotton ginning byproducts Growth substrates Phenolic compounds profile Soilless cultivation Sustainable agriculture Zeolite
Citation
Petropoulos, Spyridon; Fernandes, Ângela; Stojković, D.; Pereira, C.; Taofiq, Oludemi; Di Gioia, Francesco; Tzortzakis, N.; Soković, Marina; Barros, Lillian; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R. (2019). Cotton and cardoon byproducts as potential growing media components for Cichorium spinosum L. commercial cultivation. Journal of Cleaner Production. ISSN 0959-6526. 240, p.