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Effect of combined
application of organic P and inorganic N fertilizers on post
harvest quality of carrot
Sisay Hailu1,
Tilahun Seyoum2* and Nigussie Dechassa1
1Haramaya University, College of Agriculture, Department of Plant Science,
P.O. Box 138, Haramaya, Ethiopia.
2Haramaya University, College of Agriculture, Department of Food Science
and Post Harvest Technology, P.O. Box 131, Haramaya,
Ethiopia.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
Tilahun_Seyoum@yahoo.com. Tel: 251-256-610762. Fax:
251-256-610719/13.
Accepted
12 February, 2008 |
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A study
was undertaken to assess the effect of combined application
of organic-P and inorganic-N fertilizers on post harvest
quality of carrot
(Daucus carota l.) stored at 1°C
and ambient conditions (8.6 - 24.8°C).
For the fertilizer treatments, 309 kg orga ha-1
(for P) in combination with each of six rates of urea (0,
68.5, 267.2, 274, 342.5 and 411 kg urea ha-1) was
used. Carrot shelf life assessment was carried out in a
factorial experiment with pre-harvest fertilizer treatments
as one-factor and storage conditions as another factor.
Pre-harvest fertilizer and post harvest storage treatments
significantly affected the post harvest quality of carrot.
The weight loss, contents of ascorbic acid, reducing sugar,
total sugar, as well as titrable acidity and percentage
marketability of carrot were significantly (p < 0.05)
affected by the different pre-harvest combinations of
fertilizer treatments both at harvest and during the storage
period of 28 days at 1°C
and ambient storage conditions. The storage temperature also
showed significant (P < 0.01) influence on the weight loss,
ascorbic acid, total soluble solids, total sugar, pH,
titratable acidity and percentage marketability of carrots.
After 28 days carrots subjected to 1°C
storage had 51.4% less weight loss, 17.1% more ascorbic
acid, 15.0% lower total soluble solids, 20.7% more total
sugar and 30.1% more marketable compared to carrots stored
under ambient conditions. This indicated that shelf life of
carrots stored at 1°C
exceeded that of samples stored under ambient conditions.
Significant interaction was also observed between
pre-harvest fertilizer treatments and post-harvest storage
conditions in most of the quality parameters of carrot. The
pre-harvest combined application of orga with urea at 309 kg
ha-1 and 274 kg ha-1, respectively,
and post harvest storage at 1°C
is recommended for better postharvest quality maintenance of
carrot.
Key
words:
Organic, inorganic, orga, pre-harvest, carrot, post harvest,
storage, quality. |
