माइक्रोग्रीन्स - आधुनिक कृषि के कार्यात्मक भोजन का एक नया वर्ग

Microgreens are young vegetable greens that are approximately 1–3 inches (2.5–7.5 cm) tall. They have an aromatic flavor and concentrated nutrient content and come in a variety of colors and textures. Microgreens are considered baby plants, falling somewhere between a sprout and baby green.

That said, they shouldn’t be confused with sprouts, which do not have leaves. Sprouts also have a much shorter growing cycle of 2–7 days, whereas microgreens are usually harvested 7–21 days after germination, once the plant’s first true leaves have emerged.

Microgreens are more similar to baby greens in that only their stems and leaves are considered edible. However, unlike baby greens, they are much smaller in size and can be sold before being harvested. This means that the plants can be bought whole and cut at home, keeping them alive until they are consumed.

Microgreens are very convenient to grow, as they can be grown in a variety of locations, including outdoors, in greenhouses, controlled environment agriculture (e.g., vertical farms, greenhouses, hydroponics, aquaponics, etc.).  Microgreens can easily be grown hydroponically (the most prevalent indoor farming method) or in soil.

With the global urban population boom, there is a huge and growing demand for a more sustainable, accessible, and nutritious food supply. Urban farming, especially controlled environment agriculture (e.g., vertical farms, greenhouses, hydroponics, aquaponics, etc.), has grabbed the attention of both government and private sectors.

In controlled environmental agriculture practice, crops are grown in an enclosed space where climate, lighting, and irrigation can be controlled, optimized, and even automated by the help of data analytics and machine learning.

Besides, this indoor farming can be more accessible for urban dwellers and more environmentally friendly (e.g., less water usage and soil depletion). Despite the promises of controlled environment agriculture, nowadays, it is still at its early stage and applicable to limited agricultural commodities.

Different Types of Microgreens:

Microgreens can be grown from many different types of seeds. The most popular varieties are produced using seeds from the following plant families:-

• Brassicaceae family: Cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, watercress, radish and arugula
• Asteraceae family: Lettuce, endive, chicory and radicchio
• Apiaceae family: Dill, carrot, fennel and celery
• Amaryllidaceae family: Garlic, onion, leek
• Amaranthaceae family: Amaranth, quinoa swiss chard, beet and spinach
• Cucurbitaceae family: Melon, cucumber and squash

Cereals such as rice, oats, wheat, corn and barley, as well as legumes like chickpeas, beans and lentils, are also sometimes grown into microgreens. Microgreens vary in taste, which can range from neutral to spicy, slightly sour or even bitter, depending on the variety.

Microgreens Are Nutritious:

Microgreens are packed with nutrients. While their nutrient contents vary slightly, most varieties tend to be rich in potassium, iron, zinc, magnesium and copper. Microgreens are also a great source of beneficial plant compounds like antioxidants. What’s more, their nutrient content is concentrated, which means that they often contain higher vitamin, mineral and antioxidant levels than the same quantity of mature greens. In fact, research comparing microgreens to more mature greens reports that nutrient levels in microgreens can be up to nine times higher than those found in mature greens. Research also sho

ws that they contain a wider variety of polyphenols and other antioxidants than their mature counterparts. One study measured vitamin and antioxidant concentrations in 25 commercially available microgreens.

Although vitamin and antioxidant levels varied, levels measured in microgreens were up to 40 times higher than those recorded for more mature leaves. Therefore, although microgreens generally appear to contain higher nutrient levels than more mature plants, this may vary based on the species at hand.

Health Benefits of Microgreens:

Microgreens contain similar and often greater amounts of these nutrients than mature greens. As such, they may similarly reduce the risk of several disease as it is rich in polyphenols  and antioxidants and minerals. Microgreens deliver a concentrated dose of nutrients and beneficial plant compounds. While this seems promising, note that the number of studies directly measuring the beneficial effects of microgreens.

Microgreens in diet:

There are many ways to include microgreens in diet. They can be incorporated into a variety of dishes, including sandwiches, wraps and salads. Microgreens may also be blended into smoothies or juiced.  Another option is to use them as garnishes on pizzas, soups, omelets, curries and other warm dishes.

Basic requirements for Cultivation:

• Good-quality seeds and can be grown year-round, both indoor or outdoors.
• A good growing medium, such as a container filled with potting soil or homemade compost. Alternatively, one can use a single-use growing mat specifically designed for growing microgreens.
• Proper lighting — either sunlight or ultraviolet lighting, ideally for 12–16 hours per day.
• Fill your container with soil, making sure you don’t over-compress it, and water lightly.
• Sprinkle the seed of your choice on top of the soil as evenly as possible.
• Lightly mist your seeds with water and cover your container with a plastic lid.
• Check on your tray daily and mist water as needed to keep the seeds moist.
• A couple of days after the seeds have germinated; you may remove the plastic lid to expose them to light.
• Water once a day while your microgreens grow and gain color.
• Harvesting can be done after 7–10 days.

Authors

¹Shailesh Kumar and ²Sweta Mishra, 

 ¹Assistant Professor, Department of Botany, Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, CBS&H,

Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar-848125

²Professor, Department of Plant Breeding & Genetics, PGCA,

Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar-848125 1

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