Hydroponic cultivation has emerged as an innovative method for efficient and sustainable production of different crops because of year-round production and precise nutrient delivery. Light plays a major role when plants are grown in a controlled environment. Supplemental light is necessary for the physiological function of crops when grown in a hydroponics system. In nutrient film technique (NFT) hydroponic production, crops are usually produced with continuously flowing nutrient solutions. However, intermittent flow, where nutrient solutions are paused for periods of time instead of continuous cycling, has been proposed as a more efficient hydroponic system. Intermittent flow of nutrients increases the efficiency of hydroponic systems as it reduces the cost of running pumps continuously. Culinary herbs can be grown easily in NFT hydroponic systems. These herbs are a high-value crop and are a rich source of vitamins, nutrients, fibers, and phytochemicals that are known to fluctuate in concentration in different production systems. Yet it is not known if intermittent irrigation will impact phytochemicals in culinary herbs with or without supplemental lights in NFT production. This experiment investigated the effect of intermittent and continuous flow of nutrients in two culinary herbs, cilantro (Coriandrum sativum) and parsley (Petroselinum crispum) with or without supplemental lights. To regulate nutrient solution flow, the pump was turned on continuously in the continuous flow treatment, whereas it was turned on and off periodically for 30-minute intervals in the intermittent flow system. The herbs were grown for a month and different plant growth parameters like plant height, plant fresh weight, dry weight, root length (RL), total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and proline were measured. Interestingly, nutrient delivery only affected plant height and plant fresh weight in cilantro. Plant height was greater in intermittent flow whereas plant fresh weight was greater in continuous flow. However, nutrient flow did not show any differences in other studied growth parameters in both herbs. Supplemental light significantly increased the root length, plant fresh weight, and dry weight of both herbs. TFC of cilantro was affected by the interaction of supplemental light and nutrient flow system with greater flavonoids in a continuous flow without supplemental light. In parsley, supplemental light increased the proline content. These findings suggest that cilantro and parsley can be grown easily in intermittent flow by reducing the associated cost of production. However, supplemental lighting is necessary to increase the yield of herbs.
