Enhancement of Yield, Phytochemical Content and Biological Activity of a Leafy Vegetable (<i>Beta vulgaris</i> L. var. <i>cycla</i>) by Using Organic Amendments as an Alternative to Chemical Fertilizer
This study evaluates the effect of a chemical fertilizer (ammonium nitrate), a compost (vermicompost from cattle manure) and two biochars (from vine prunings and wood chips, respectively), applied to the soil alone or in mixture, on the yield, phytochemical content and biological activity of <i&g...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/3/569 |
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| author | Angela Libutti Daniela Russo Ludovica Lela Maria Ponticelli Luigi Milella Anna Rita Rivelli |
| author_facet | Angela Libutti Daniela Russo Ludovica Lela Maria Ponticelli Luigi Milella Anna Rita Rivelli |
| author_sort | Angela Libutti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study evaluates the effect of a chemical fertilizer (ammonium nitrate), a compost (vermicompost from cattle manure) and two biochars (from vine prunings and wood chips, respectively), applied to the soil alone or in mixture, on the yield, phytochemical content and biological activity of <i>Beta vulgaris</i> L. var. <i>cycla</i> (Swiss chard). The respective treatments, each replicated four times, were arranged according to a completely randomized block design. Results showed that vermicompost, both alone and in mixture with vine pruning biochar, significantly increased yield parameters (plant height and leaf area) and yield over the untreated soil and the biochars alone, similar to ammonium nitrate. Moreover, vermicompost, both alone and in mixture, respectively, with the two biochars, determined lower total N and NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup> contents than ammonium nitrate, both alone and in mixture, respectively, with the two biochars. In particular, NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup> content was within the safe thresholds fixed for leafy vegetables by the European Commission to prevent any adverse implication on human health from dietary NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup> exposure. The biochars alone resulted in very low yield and leaf total N content, likely due to a limited release of N for plant uptake, also evidenced by the undetectable NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup> leaf content, similarly shown by plants grown in untreated soil. Vermicompost, alone or in mixture, respectively, with the two biochars, increased the content of specialized metabolites, with a positive effect on antioxidant activity. The organic amendments, particularly compost, could be an alternative to chemical fertilizers to reach a trade-off between yield, nutritional and health qualities in Swiss chard, meeting the needs of farmers and consumers as well as the targets for sustainable food production. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T09:29:46Z |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T09:29:46Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
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| record_format | Article |
| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj.art-ca3a246737a14ed3b7ff2466d074358c2023-11-16T17:44:15ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472023-01-0112356910.3390/plants12030569Enhancement of Yield, Phytochemical Content and Biological Activity of a Leafy Vegetable (<i>Beta vulgaris</i> L. var. <i>cycla</i>) by Using Organic Amendments as an Alternative to Chemical FertilizerAngela Libutti0Daniela Russo1Ludovica Lela2Maria Ponticelli3Luigi Milella4Anna Rita Rivelli5Department of Science of Agriculture, Food, Natural Resources and Engineering, University of Foggia, Via Napoli, 25, 71122 Foggia, ItalyDepartment of Sciences, University of Basilicata, Via dell’Ateneo Lucano, 10, 85100 Potenza, ItalyDepartment of Sciences, University of Basilicata, Via dell’Ateneo Lucano, 10, 85100 Potenza, ItalyDepartment of Sciences, University of Basilicata, Via dell’Ateneo Lucano, 10, 85100 Potenza, ItalyDepartment of Sciences, University of Basilicata, Via dell’Ateneo Lucano, 10, 85100 Potenza, ItalySchool of Agricultural, Forest, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Basilicata, Via dell’Ateneo Lucano, 10, 85100 Potenza, ItalyThis study evaluates the effect of a chemical fertilizer (ammonium nitrate), a compost (vermicompost from cattle manure) and two biochars (from vine prunings and wood chips, respectively), applied to the soil alone or in mixture, on the yield, phytochemical content and biological activity of <i>Beta vulgaris</i> L. var. <i>cycla</i> (Swiss chard). The respective treatments, each replicated four times, were arranged according to a completely randomized block design. Results showed that vermicompost, both alone and in mixture with vine pruning biochar, significantly increased yield parameters (plant height and leaf area) and yield over the untreated soil and the biochars alone, similar to ammonium nitrate. Moreover, vermicompost, both alone and in mixture, respectively, with the two biochars, determined lower total N and NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup> contents than ammonium nitrate, both alone and in mixture, respectively, with the two biochars. In particular, NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup> content was within the safe thresholds fixed for leafy vegetables by the European Commission to prevent any adverse implication on human health from dietary NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup> exposure. The biochars alone resulted in very low yield and leaf total N content, likely due to a limited release of N for plant uptake, also evidenced by the undetectable NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup> leaf content, similarly shown by plants grown in untreated soil. Vermicompost, alone or in mixture, respectively, with the two biochars, increased the content of specialized metabolites, with a positive effect on antioxidant activity. The organic amendments, particularly compost, could be an alternative to chemical fertilizers to reach a trade-off between yield, nutritional and health qualities in Swiss chard, meeting the needs of farmers and consumers as well as the targets for sustainable food production.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/3/569Swiss chardbiocharvermicompostyieldnitratepolyphenols |
| spellingShingle | Angela Libutti Daniela Russo Ludovica Lela Maria Ponticelli Luigi Milella Anna Rita Rivelli Enhancement of Yield, Phytochemical Content and Biological Activity of a Leafy Vegetable (<i>Beta vulgaris</i> L. var. <i>cycla</i>) by Using Organic Amendments as an Alternative to Chemical Fertilizer Plants Swiss chard biochar vermicompost yield nitrate polyphenols |
| title | Enhancement of Yield, Phytochemical Content and Biological Activity of a Leafy Vegetable (<i>Beta vulgaris</i> L. var. <i>cycla</i>) by Using Organic Amendments as an Alternative to Chemical Fertilizer |
| title_full | Enhancement of Yield, Phytochemical Content and Biological Activity of a Leafy Vegetable (<i>Beta vulgaris</i> L. var. <i>cycla</i>) by Using Organic Amendments as an Alternative to Chemical Fertilizer |
| title_fullStr | Enhancement of Yield, Phytochemical Content and Biological Activity of a Leafy Vegetable (<i>Beta vulgaris</i> L. var. <i>cycla</i>) by Using Organic Amendments as an Alternative to Chemical Fertilizer |
| title_full_unstemmed | Enhancement of Yield, Phytochemical Content and Biological Activity of a Leafy Vegetable (<i>Beta vulgaris</i> L. var. <i>cycla</i>) by Using Organic Amendments as an Alternative to Chemical Fertilizer |
| title_short | Enhancement of Yield, Phytochemical Content and Biological Activity of a Leafy Vegetable (<i>Beta vulgaris</i> L. var. <i>cycla</i>) by Using Organic Amendments as an Alternative to Chemical Fertilizer |
| title_sort | enhancement of yield phytochemical content and biological activity of a leafy vegetable i beta vulgaris i l var i cycla i by using organic amendments as an alternative to chemical fertilizer |
| topic | Swiss chard biochar vermicompost yield nitrate polyphenols |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/3/569 |
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