Articles
The concentration of microelements in field-grown Brassica species under different fertilization treatments
Article number
1320_31
Pages
241 – 246
Language
English
Abstract
Essential mineral elements, obtained from dietary sources, are nutritionally important for human health.
Vegetables from the Brassicaceae family are rich in microelements, which contributes to their nutritional value.
One of the major sources of variability in the mineral composition of plants, beside genetic background, is the application of fertilizers.
Here we tested the effect of organic and mineral fertilizers on the concentration of Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu in edible parts of broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower, under field conditions.
Mature cattle and composted pig manure (20 t ha‑1), NPK (300 and 500 kg ha‑1) alone or in combination, were applied as treatments.
Significant increase in Mn concentration in cabbage under all treatments was recorded, relative to control (unfertilized) (up to 52% in the presence of 500 kg NPK ha‑1). However, the application of both NPK doses resulted in approximately 95% lower Mn concentrations in broccoli.
Broccoli and cauliflower had a significantly lower concentration of Fe under all treatments, relative to control.
The concentration of Zn in broccoli decreased significantly in the presence of applied treatments (particularly in presence of cattle manure combined with 300 NPK, by 31%). However, Zn concentration in cauliflower increased significantly after application of both 300 and 500 kg NPK ha‑1 (34 and 59%, respectively). The application of pig manure in combination with 500 and 300 kg NPK ha‑1 increased the Cu concentration in cabbage by 92%, with respect to control.
In general, the applied fertilization schemes (particularly combinations of manure with NPK and NPK alone) enhanced the accumulation of microelements in leaves of cabbage to a greater extent than in florets of broccoli and cauliflower.
Between broccoli and cauliflower, the highest difference was found in the concentration of Cu, which significantly increased in broccoli fertilized with pig manure in combination with NPK and NPK alone.
Vegetables from the Brassicaceae family are rich in microelements, which contributes to their nutritional value.
One of the major sources of variability in the mineral composition of plants, beside genetic background, is the application of fertilizers.
Here we tested the effect of organic and mineral fertilizers on the concentration of Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu in edible parts of broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower, under field conditions.
Mature cattle and composted pig manure (20 t ha‑1), NPK (300 and 500 kg ha‑1) alone or in combination, were applied as treatments.
Significant increase in Mn concentration in cabbage under all treatments was recorded, relative to control (unfertilized) (up to 52% in the presence of 500 kg NPK ha‑1). However, the application of both NPK doses resulted in approximately 95% lower Mn concentrations in broccoli.
Broccoli and cauliflower had a significantly lower concentration of Fe under all treatments, relative to control.
The concentration of Zn in broccoli decreased significantly in the presence of applied treatments (particularly in presence of cattle manure combined with 300 NPK, by 31%). However, Zn concentration in cauliflower increased significantly after application of both 300 and 500 kg NPK ha‑1 (34 and 59%, respectively). The application of pig manure in combination with 500 and 300 kg NPK ha‑1 increased the Cu concentration in cabbage by 92%, with respect to control.
In general, the applied fertilization schemes (particularly combinations of manure with NPK and NPK alone) enhanced the accumulation of microelements in leaves of cabbage to a greater extent than in florets of broccoli and cauliflower.
Between broccoli and cauliflower, the highest difference was found in the concentration of Cu, which significantly increased in broccoli fertilized with pig manure in combination with NPK and NPK alone.
Authors
M. Daničić, I. Maksimović, M. Putnik-Delić, Ž. Ilin
Keywords
broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, micronutrients, manure, NPK
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