TY - GEN

T1 - Control of quality formation of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var.botrytis L.) by subsurface drip fertigation

AU - Safari, Zahir Shah

AU - Mburu, Martin Mungai

AU - Callaú-Beyer, Ana Claudia

AU - Weßler, Caspar-Friedrich

AU - Stützel, Hartmut

PY - 2023/10/4

Y1 - 2023/10/4

N2 - The external quality of cauliflower is largely dependent on the size of its leaves, which affects the head size through photosynthesis, as well as the white coloring of the head through shading. Insufficient nitrogen supply negatively impacts leaf expansion and thereby leaf size. Therefore, recommended nitrogen fertilization target values in practical cultivation sometimes exceed 300 kg/ha (Feller et al., 2011). The application of nitrogen fertilizers faces challenges under specific weather conditions. In highly humid weather, there is a risk of nitrogen being leached, thereby failing to reach the plant roots effectively. During dry conditions, the availability of nitrogen to plant roots can be reduced. To address this issue, intensive plant cultivation requires technologies that can deliver plant nutrients in small doses directly to the root system as needed. One such technology involves using drip irrigation hoses placed 20-40 cm below the soil surface in the root zone of the plants. This technique, known as subsurface drip fertigation (SDF), enables the precise application of nutrients and water directly to the crop's root zone, optimizing water and nutrient delivery based on crop demand. By combining the application of nutrients and water, SDF can reduce drought and nutrient stresses and optimize yield (Barakat et al., 2016). Consumers prefer cauliflowers that are light white in color, low in alkenyl and indole glucosinolates, and high in sugar (Schonhof et al., 2004). With regard to the external quality, this primarily affects the head size and color, which, as mentioned above, are closely related to the leaf expansion. So, it is conceivable to keep the nitrogen supply at a high level during the leaf growth phase and then lower it during the head formation phase. It is also known that many internal quality characteristics can be influenced by the nutrient supply. For example, the concentration and composition of the flavoring glucosinolates depend on the ratio of the nutrient element’s nitrogen and sulphur (Neugart et al., 2018). A corresponding adjustment of the N:S ratio in the head formation phase would presumably result in an ingredient profile corresponding to the consumer's wishes. An increase in the sugar content through a reduced N or increased K supply is also conceivable. Research suggests that a quality cauliflower with high sweetness was achieved when plants were fertilized with nitrogen levels ranging from 200 to 300 kg N ha-1 (Singh et al., 2022). The objective of this research project is to analyze the effects of development phase-related variations in nutrient supply on the curd sweetness and glucosinolates of cauliflower. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the effects of nitrogen levels during the vegetative and curd formation phases of cauliflower growth on curd quality.

AB - The external quality of cauliflower is largely dependent on the size of its leaves, which affects the head size through photosynthesis, as well as the white coloring of the head through shading. Insufficient nitrogen supply negatively impacts leaf expansion and thereby leaf size. Therefore, recommended nitrogen fertilization target values in practical cultivation sometimes exceed 300 kg/ha (Feller et al., 2011). The application of nitrogen fertilizers faces challenges under specific weather conditions. In highly humid weather, there is a risk of nitrogen being leached, thereby failing to reach the plant roots effectively. During dry conditions, the availability of nitrogen to plant roots can be reduced. To address this issue, intensive plant cultivation requires technologies that can deliver plant nutrients in small doses directly to the root system as needed. One such technology involves using drip irrigation hoses placed 20-40 cm below the soil surface in the root zone of the plants. This technique, known as subsurface drip fertigation (SDF), enables the precise application of nutrients and water directly to the crop's root zone, optimizing water and nutrient delivery based on crop demand. By combining the application of nutrients and water, SDF can reduce drought and nutrient stresses and optimize yield (Barakat et al., 2016). Consumers prefer cauliflowers that are light white in color, low in alkenyl and indole glucosinolates, and high in sugar (Schonhof et al., 2004). With regard to the external quality, this primarily affects the head size and color, which, as mentioned above, are closely related to the leaf expansion. So, it is conceivable to keep the nitrogen supply at a high level during the leaf growth phase and then lower it during the head formation phase. It is also known that many internal quality characteristics can be influenced by the nutrient supply. For example, the concentration and composition of the flavoring glucosinolates depend on the ratio of the nutrient element’s nitrogen and sulphur (Neugart et al., 2018). A corresponding adjustment of the N:S ratio in the head formation phase would presumably result in an ingredient profile corresponding to the consumer's wishes. An increase in the sugar content through a reduced N or increased K supply is also conceivable. Research suggests that a quality cauliflower with high sweetness was achieved when plants were fertilized with nitrogen levels ranging from 200 to 300 kg N ha-1 (Singh et al., 2022). The objective of this research project is to analyze the effects of development phase-related variations in nutrient supply on the curd sweetness and glucosinolates of cauliflower. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the effects of nitrogen levels during the vegetative and curd formation phases of cauliflower growth on curd quality.

UR - https://www.researchgate.net/publication/374551371_Control_of_quality_formation_of_cauliflower_Brassica_oleracea_var_botrytis_L_by_subsurface_drip_fertigation

UR - https://www.gpw.uni-kiel.de/de/gpw-tagung/tagungsbaende/tagungsband_2023.pdf

M3 - Conference contribution

T3 - Mitteilungen der Gesellschaft für Pflanzenbauwissenschaften

SP - 191

EP - 192

BT - 64. Tagung der Gesellschaft für Pflanzenbauwissenschaften e. V.: Digital tools, big data, modeling and sensing methods for sustainable and climate smart crop and grassland systems; 4. bis 6. Oktober 2023; Göttingen

PB - Druckerei und Verlag Liddy Halm

CY - Göttingen

T2 - 64. Tagung der Gesellschaft für Pflanzenbauwissenschaften e. V.:

Y2 - 4 October 2023 through 6 October 2023

ER -