Varietal specificities in yield and nitrate content in cauliflower

Abstract

Apart from being important factors in producing high yields, nitrogenous fertilisers can act as sources of intensive soil pollution, with increased amounts of nitrogen, particularly of its nitrate form, being uptaken by the plant. To examine the effect of nitrogen fertilisation on cauliflower yield and nitrate accumulation in the cauliflower curd, the trials were set up involving two cauliflower genotypes (variety Snowball and Nautilus F₁ hybrid), applying increasing nitrogen rates - 80,120 and 160kgN/ha broadcast as CAN (calcium ammonium nitrate). The results obtained showed that there was a rising tendency in all the parameters examined (curd weight, curd diameter and total curd yield), concurrent with nitrogen rate increases, the average nitrate content in the cauliflower curd being 1124 mg/kg in the variety and 733 mg/kg in the hybrid.