Potential of hydroponically cultivated Tetragonia decumbens Mill. as a new urban food crop: an overview

Abstract

There is an ever-increasing global cognizance of food nutrition and security and a need for cultivating sustainable plant crops especially with recent trends of declining freshwater resources and increasing drought stress. Tetragonia decumbens Mill. (dune spinach) is a low growing, sprawling perennial native to the coastal sand dunes from southern Namibia to the Eastern Cape of South Africa. It is well-adapted to grow in nutrient poor sandy soils with low water content and coastal sea spray. Historical records reveal that it was utilized as an edible food source by local people. There is a re-kindled interest among user groups of chefs, food innovators, gardens, community farmers, and local knowledge holders to reintroduce wild food plants as a viable and accessible food source. This paper aims to explore the importance of this species as an under-utilized wild leafy green vegetable and foster the need to develop cultivation protocols with emphasis in hydroponics. Furthermore, it will inherently contribute to the future commercial, environmental, and social potential as an edible food crop in urban, peri-urban, and rural community settings.