Next Article in Journal
Epidemiology of Cocoa Swollen Shoot Disease (CSSD) on Rehabilitated Cocoa Farms in South-Western Côte d’Ivoire
Previous Article in Journal
Dynamic Changes in Nutrients and Bioactives During Germination of Two New Mung Bean Cultivars
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Crops
Volume 6
Issue 4
10.3390/crops6040071
crops-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Article

Aeroponic Growth System and Soil-Based Cultivation: Insights into Mineral Nutrients, Antioxidant Molecules and Antioxidant Activity in Edible Parts of Different Vegetables

by
Lucia Giorgetti
1,*,†,
Eliana Lanfranca Tassi
2,†,
Vincenzo Longo
1,
Massimiliano Leoncini
3 and
Lorenza Bellani
1
1
Institute of Biology and Agricultural Biotechnology (IBBA), National Research Council, 56124 Pisa, Italy
2
Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems (IRET), National Research Council, 56124 Pisa, Italy
3
Organic Agricultural Company Podere Callaiola, Strada di Magliano 3, Barberino Tavarnelle, 50028 Florence, Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Crops 2026, 6(4), 71; https://doi.org/10.3390/crops6040071
Submission received: 27 May 2026 / Revised: 30 June 2026 / Accepted: 20 July 2026 / Published: 22 July 2026
Browse Figure
Versions Notes

Abstract

In this study, the growth of tomatoes, basil, lettuce and courgette in aeroponic versus traditional soil-based cultivation revealed key differences in mineral nutrient content, antioxidant molecules, and antioxidant activity. The aeroponic system yielded comparable or higher concentrations of P (in basil), K (in lettuce and basil), Ca and Mg (in all species), Fe (in tomatoes), Mn (in basil, courgette and tomatoes), and Cu and Zn (in courgette). Aeroponic cultivation enhanced or maintained the antioxidant content, with the highest flavonoid levels in basil (75.84 mg QE g−1 DW), followed by lettuce (65.97 mg QE g−1 DW). Consistent with these findings, total antioxidant activity assays were highest in aeroponically grown basil (91.27 ARA%). However, responses varied by crop and maturity stage: DPPH radical-scavenging activity was greater in soil-grown lettuce (92.30 ARA%), while FRAP values were highest in basil in both aeroponic and soil-grown cultures (197.02 and 195.3 mg FeSO4 g−1 DW, respectively). However, the interspecific differences indicate that aeroponic systems cannot be applied uniformly; rather, each species could maximize productivity and quality under appropriate conditions. Overall, aeroponic cultivation proved to be a resource-efficient and sustainable alternative to conventional soil farming, providing comparable or superior nutritional quality and reducing water consumption.
Keywords: aeroponic; conventional farming; mineral nutrients; antioxidant molecules; antioxidant activity aeroponic; conventional farming; mineral nutrients; antioxidant molecules; antioxidant activity
Graphical Abstract

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Giorgetti, L.; Tassi, E.L.; Longo, V.; Leoncini, M.; Bellani, L. Aeroponic Growth System and Soil-Based Cultivation: Insights into Mineral Nutrients, Antioxidant Molecules and Antioxidant Activity in Edible Parts of Different Vegetables. Crops 2026, 6, 71. https://doi.org/10.3390/crops6040071

AMA Style

Giorgetti L, Tassi EL, Longo V, Leoncini M, Bellani L. Aeroponic Growth System and Soil-Based Cultivation: Insights into Mineral Nutrients, Antioxidant Molecules and Antioxidant Activity in Edible Parts of Different Vegetables. Crops. 2026; 6(4):71. https://doi.org/10.3390/crops6040071

Chicago/Turabian Style

Giorgetti, Lucia, Eliana Lanfranca Tassi, Vincenzo Longo, Massimiliano Leoncini, and Lorenza Bellani. 2026. "Aeroponic Growth System and Soil-Based Cultivation: Insights into Mineral Nutrients, Antioxidant Molecules and Antioxidant Activity in Edible Parts of Different Vegetables" Crops 6, no. 4: 71. https://doi.org/10.3390/crops6040071

APA Style

Giorgetti, L., Tassi, E. L., Longo, V., Leoncini, M., & Bellani, L. (2026). Aeroponic Growth System and Soil-Based Cultivation: Insights into Mineral Nutrients, Antioxidant Molecules and Antioxidant Activity in Edible Parts of Different Vegetables. Crops, 6(4), 71. https://doi.org/10.3390/crops6040071

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop