Analysis of Changes in Growth, Nutrient Absorption Characteristics, and Glucosinolate Contents of Chinese Cabbage (Brassica rapa pekinensis) Grown in Reclaimed Land according to Irrigation with Different Salt Concentrations

Abstract

Reclaimed land contains a large amount of soluble salts and exchangeable sodium in the soil, so it is necessary to select and cultivate tolerant crops that are resistant against salt stress. Chinese cabbage, a staple ingredient in kimchi, is an important vegetable that accounts for most of the production area of leafy vegetables in Korea, but no cases have been reported of growing cabbages in reclaimed land to examine growth and glucosinolate content. The objective of this study was to analyze the growth, nutrient absorption characteristics, and glucosinolate content of Chinese cabbages grown in spring and autumn on reclaimed land with irrigation water with different salt concentrations. The salt concentrations of the irrigation water were 0, 2, and 4 dS∙m -1 . Growth of spring and autumn Chinese cabbages did not change according to the salt concentration of the irrigation water, and only autumn Chinese cabbages showed an increase of Na content according to the salt concentration of the irrigation water. The total glucosinolate content tended to decrease when the salt concentration of irrigation water increased. The increase in salt concentration of irrigation water may reduce the bitterness of autumn Chinese cabbage. Here, it was confirmed that Chinese cabbage cultivation is possible even if the salt concentration of irrigation water reaches 4dS·m -1 on reclaimed land, and the glucosinolate content of autumn Chinese cabbage decreases when salt concentration increases. Additional key words: macronutrient, micronutrient, salt stress, secondary metabolite, sodium chloride