Research Brief: Comparing Soilless Systems for Basil
August 27, 2026 
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Led by researchers from Wageningen University, Delft University of Technology, and ag-tech company LettUs Grow, a new study examines how different soilless growing systems affect basil growth and root development, with a particular focus on oxygen levels in the rootzone. The report was published online in The Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology on April 23, 2026.
Researchers compared basil grown in aeroponic, ebb-and-flow, and deep-water hydroponic systems under greenhouse conditions. In one trial, basil grown aeroponically produced 29% more shoot biomass than plants grown in ebb-and-flow systems and 18% more than plants grown in deep-water systems. However, when oxygen levels alone were tested more directly, reduced oxygen in deep-water systems did not significantly reduce shoot growth during the first three weeks after transplanting.
The study found that basil roots respond to lower oxygen conditions by forming aerenchyma—air-filled spaces within root tissue that help improve internal gas exchange. Plants in low-oxygen systems developed significantly more of these structures over time, which researchers suggest may help maintain growth under mild hypoxic conditions.
Researchers also used optical coherence tomography, a non-destructive imaging technology adapted from medical imaging, to monitor root development in living plants. The work highlights how rootzone conditions can influence crop performance in hydroponic and aeroponic growing systems.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published in our 2026 Industry Report: Greenhouse Produce.
