Articles
TRADITIONAL CROP REVISED: YIELD AND QUALITY OF PALM-TREE KALE, GROWN AS A MECHANISED INDUSTRIAL CROP, AS A FUNCTION OF CUTTING HEIGHT
Article number
598_17
Pages
123 – 127
Language
English
Abstract
Palm-tree kale is a local crop grown in some areas of the northern Apennines, Italy.
The food industry is presently interested in recovering traditional recipes: besides the processing aspects, a critical factor for raw-material production is complete automation.
Previous research demonstrated the possibility of growing palm-tree kale at high density, with early simultaneous harvest.
Biomass partitioning and quality as a function of cutting height were further investigated.
An autumn crop was cut at ground level on three dates.
The plant parts at 0-3, 3-6 and over 6 cm, or 0-6, 6-12 and above 12 cm, respectively, for the first and the other harvests, were separated in leaf blades, petioles and stalks, and analysed for dry matter, fibre and nitrates.
High yield was attained already at the second harvest, with about 62% represented by the upper plant parts.
At low cutting heights the yield rose, but with a higher incidence of the basal fractions.
Fibre and nitrate contents were higher in the basal parts, where petioles and stalks prevailed.
As a result, cutting at greater height increased quality.
Early harvest yielded sufficient biomass, unless cutting was done at ground level.
Nitrate content increased with plant ageing, but not relevantly in the upper fractions.
The basal parts also had high fibre contents, not compatible with acceptable quality.
A harvest stage optimising yield and quality can be identified.
The food industry is presently interested in recovering traditional recipes: besides the processing aspects, a critical factor for raw-material production is complete automation.
Previous research demonstrated the possibility of growing palm-tree kale at high density, with early simultaneous harvest.
Biomass partitioning and quality as a function of cutting height were further investigated.
An autumn crop was cut at ground level on three dates.
The plant parts at 0-3, 3-6 and over 6 cm, or 0-6, 6-12 and above 12 cm, respectively, for the first and the other harvests, were separated in leaf blades, petioles and stalks, and analysed for dry matter, fibre and nitrates.
High yield was attained already at the second harvest, with about 62% represented by the upper plant parts.
At low cutting heights the yield rose, but with a higher incidence of the basal fractions.
Fibre and nitrate contents were higher in the basal parts, where petioles and stalks prevailed.
As a result, cutting at greater height increased quality.
Early harvest yielded sufficient biomass, unless cutting was done at ground level.
Nitrate content increased with plant ageing, but not relevantly in the upper fractions.
The basal parts also had high fibre contents, not compatible with acceptable quality.
A harvest stage optimising yield and quality can be identified.
Authors
L.F. D’Antuono, R. Neri
Keywords
Brassica oleracea L., ssp. Acephala DC, var. sabellica L., freezing, landraces, vegetable processing
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