Crop Spotlight: Rocket / Arugula

Rocket, also known as arugula, refers to two distinct species: wild rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia) and salad rocket (Eruca sativa), both belonging to the Brassicaceae family. Wild rocket tends to be hardier and grows more slowly, offering a sharp, peppery flavor. In contrast, salad rocket grows more quickly and has a shorter lifespan, featuring a milder…

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Crop Spotlight: Rocket / Arugula

Rocket, also known as arugula, refers to two distinct species: wild rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia) and salad rocket (Eruca sativa), both belonging to the Brassicaceae family. Wild rocket tends to be hardier and grows more slowly, offering a sharp, peppery flavor. In contrast, salad rocket grows more quickly and has a shorter lifespan, featuring a milder yet still peppery taste. For consumers, arugula is an excellent source of folate and vitamin K, as well as a good source of vitamins A and C.

Zayndu’s ActivatedAir™ has enhanced germination and yield for both wild and salad rocket.

Germination

Wild Rocket

Zayndu

Salad Rocket

Zayndu
Zayndu
Figure 1. Salad Rocket Germination. Similarly, salad rocket was treated with ActivatedAir™ and compared against Untreated rocket in a germination set-up.

ActivatedAir™ has beneficial effects on the germination rates of both wild rocket and salad rocket. On Day 2, wild rocket seeds treated with ActivatedAir demonstrated a 54% increase in germination, which further improved by an additional 9% by Day 7. Salad rocket, known for its quicker germination, also experienced benefits from this treatment. On the first day, seeds treated with ActivatedAir™ showed a 14% increase in germination, and by Day 2, both types of seeds achieved over 95% germination, a typical outcome for salad rocket.

Soil Growing/Yield

Wild Rocket

Zayndu
Zayndu
Figure 2. Soil Growing and Yield Analysis of Wild Rocket. In a field experiment, treated Wild Rocket and untreated Wild Rocket were grown in multiple separate trays and spaced random on a single greenhouse bench. After approximately 3-4 weeks, yield analyses were completed and fresh weights were taken.

Salad Rocket

Zayndu
Zayndu
Figure 3. Salad Rocket Microgreens Soil Growing and Yield Experiment. Salad Rocket was treated with ActivatedAir™ and sown densely within tubs containing soil. These were grown alongside untreated seeds for no more than a week, after which they were harvested, with fresh weights being taken. The picture shows untreated (left) and treated (right) Salad Rocket after 4 days.

Both types of arugula showed notable benefits in yield.

After conducting the Wild Rocket trial, we observed a 20% increase in yield, which was determined by measuring the fresh weights of each of the four trays used in the experiment.

For Salad Rocket, the yields increased by an average of 10% after just 7 days of growth in compost media with dense sowing. This quick enhancement in growth and development aligns with the germination testing for Salad Rocket, which also demonstrated an immediate increase in germination rates.

Conclusion

In summary, the use of Zayndu’s ActivatedAir™ has significantly enhanced the growth and harvest of wild and salad arugula. The notable increases in germination rates and fresh weight demonstrate that ActivatedAir™ is an effective tool for cultivating these nutritious greens. As more individuals seek delicious and healthy food options, the benefits highlighted in the results support growers in producing greater yields while encouraging sustainable food production practices.

Written by Alberto Campanaro and Sam Gee