Effect of Different Cultivation Systems on the Accumulation of Nutrients and Phytochemicals in Ligularia fischeri

A hydroponic cultivation system was established to improve the nutraceutical properties of Ligularia fischeri (Ledeb.) Turcz, during which nutrient uptake by the plant from nutrient solution was measured using inductive coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). Based on the obtained data, the uptake of macro and micro elements per gram of fresh weight was calculated. The uptake of macro-elements of NH4+-N, NO3−-N, K, S, P, Ca, and Mg were 1.62, 4.27, 8.41, 1.19, 2.59, 2.79, and 0.84 mg·g−1 FW and micro-elements of B, Fe, Mn, Mo, Cu, and Zn were 9.91, 22.31, 25.73, 2.51, 2.91, and 5.07 µg·g−1 FW. Moreover, the effects of cultivation systems on growth and phytochemical composition of L. fischeri were compared. The greatest biomass was observed in the hydroponic cultivation system with continuous circulation nutrient solution compared to natural soil and Tosilee media based culture systems. The recirculated hydroponic system significantly increased the total phenol contents of the leaf, petiole, and root extracts by 17.6%, 30.6%, and 20.9% more compared to the soil grown. The recirculated hydroponic system treatment significantly increased the total antioxidant capacity of root extracts by 55.9% more compared to the soil treatment. Based on the contents of elements, total phenolic and flavonoid, it was concluded that hydroponic cultivation system is the optimal method to enhance medicinal value.