Articles
FERTILIZATION AND IRRIGATION IN RELATION TO THE QUALITY OF VEGETABLES
Up to now, among the production factors, fertilization and irrigation have been studied to increase the yields.
Since recently, scientists have been working on the influence of these factors on quality.
The intrinsic quality components may be classified on their increasing subjectivity degree : hygienic and sanitary quality, nutritional quality, technological quality organoleptic quality.
Most of them are now measurable and the objective appreciation of the influence of fertilization and irrigation is then possible through knowledge of experimental data.
As for the hygienic and sanitary quality, specially represented by nitrates and heavy metals, the influence of macronutrients level of the soil on nitrate content in lettuce, aubergin and cucumber is particulary examined.
With regard to nutritional quality, resultats of studies on vitamin C content are presented, although this is not a main problem.
As for organoleptic quality, the fertilization, often in relation to irrigation, acts specially through the deficiencies which influence vegetable colour, shape, firmness and flavour.
The soilless culture can increase organoleptic quality and firmness tomato and cucumber fruits.
This research work on fertilization and irrigation ought to make consumers feel safer as regards vegetables.
We wish the consumer to be more informed.