A Comparative Analysis of Physiological and Morphological Responses of Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) under Aeroponic, Hydroponic, and Perlite-Based Culture Systems

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe), a globally significant spice and medicinal plant, faces numerous cultivation challenges in conventional agriculture, including soil-borne diseases, climate variability, and resource limitations. Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) and soilless culture systems (SCS) present viable, sustainable alternatives. This review provides a critical comparative analysis of the physiological, morphological, and phytochemical responses of ginger when cultivated in three prominent SCS: aeroponics, hydroponics, and perlite-based substrate culture. A systematic review of recent literature reveals that aeroponics, by providing an oxygen-rich root-zone environment, significantly enhances root system architecture, nutrient use efficiency, photosynthetic rates, and overall biomass accumulation. Consequently, aeroponically grown ginger often exhibits superior rhizome yield and higher concentrations of key bioactive compounds, such as gingerols. Hydroponic systems also demonstrate high productivity, provided that root-zone hypoxia is effectively managed through adequate aeration. Perlite-based culture, while technologically simpler and less capital-intensive, may impose physical impedance and create suboptimal water and nutrient gradients, potentially limiting both growth and yield compared to liquid culture systems. This analysis concludes that while the optimal system choice is contingent on production goals and economic constraints, aeroponics holds the greatest potential for maximizing the yield and pharmaceutical quality of ginger.

کلیدواژه ها:

Zingiber officinale ، Aeroponics ، Hydroponics ، Physiological Response ، Controlled Environment Agriculture