Peanut plants (Arachis hypogaea L. cv. Georgia Red) were
grown hydroponically using a recirculating
nutrient film technique. The effect of CO2 enrichment
on nutritive composition of hydroponic peanut
seeds was examined at two elevated CO2 levels (700 and 1400
ppm) that simulate potential conditions
in National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Controlled
Ecological Life-Support
Systems (CELSS) and compared to ambient CO2 condition in
hydroponics (the control). Plants were
harvested at 97 days after planting, and the seeds were air-dried and
analyzed for composition.
Percentages of crude protein, crude fat, ash, and carbohydrate of
hydroponic peanut seeds were
around 30%, 30%, 3%, and 30%, respectively. The major amino
acids were aspartic acid, glutamic
acid, and arginine. The limiting amino acid of peanut, methionine,
was 1.2%. Linoleic acid was
the major fatty acid, followed by oleic and palmitic acids. The
major mineral elements were K, P,
Mg, and Ca. The results showed that certain peanut varieties can
be grown hydroponically. The
composition of the hydroponically grown peanuts is generally similar to
reported peanut composition.
The nutrient composition was not affected at the elevated
CO2 concentrations investigated.
Keywords: CELSS; hydroponic; NFT; elevated CO2 levels;
peanut