Fermentation and Quality of Kimchi Prepared wth Chiness Cabbages Harvested from Field and Hydroponic Cultivation

The potential of hydroponic cultivated Chinese cabbage as a kimchi material was evaluated. The hydroponic-grown (HG) Chinese cabbage was heavier in weight, taller in height, wider in width, but less in number of leaves compared with the field-grown (FG) Chinese cabbage. The former showed higher contents of calcium, iron, vitamin A and niacin, and lower lipid and vitamin C than the latter. During fermentation of 28 days at 1$0^{\circ}C$, FG and HG kimchis showed comparable pH and acidity values, besides that the FG and HG kimchis showed a pH value of 4.2 and 4.0, respectively, at the 14th day. The FG kimchi showed higher numbers of total microbes as well as total and typical lactic acid bacteria than the HG kimchi at the 7th day. However, both kimchis did not show any difference at 14th day. There was no significant difference in the {TEX}$L^{*}${/TEX} value between FG and HG kimchis. However, HG kimchi showed a more reddish hue than FE kimchi between the 7th and 14th day of fermentation. In sensory evaluation, the HG kimchi revealed a slightly more sour taste and a less crispy texture than the FE kimchi at the 14th day. However, both kimchis did not show any difference in overall quality until the 21st day of fermentation.