Edward Kunicki

The effect of cultivar type, time of cultivation, and biostimulant treatment on the yield of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.)

Abstract The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of spraying with Aminoplant on the yield of two spinach cultivars in the spring and autumn cultivations. The experiment was carried out in 2008 and 2009 in the experimental station of the University of Agriculture in Krakow, Poland. Three factors were taken into consideration: (1) cultivar: ‘Rembrandt F1’ and ‘Spiros F1’; (2) time of cultivation: spring and autumn; (3) dose of Aminoplant: control (without Aminoplant), 1.5 dm3 ha-1 and 3.0 dm3 ha-1. The spinach yield was dependent on the time of production and cultivar type, and ranged between 18.6-44.8 t ha-1. Both cultivars yielded better in autumn cultivation. Spraying with Aminoplant had no effect on spinach yield. Dry matter content in spinach leaves was between 6.3-11.2 g 100 g-1. Spinach grown in the autumn had a greater content of dry matter in comparison to the spring cultivation. In 2009, ‘Rembrant F1’ was characterized by greater dry matter content than ‘Spiros F1’. Aminoplant in a dose of 3.0 dm3 ha-1 lowered dry matter content in spinach leaves as compared to the control. The nitrate content in spinach was differentiated (558-3506 mg NO3 kg-1 f.m.) and depended on the time of cultivation, the cultivar, and the Aminoplant dose.

The Effect of Cultivar and Biostimulant Treatment on the Carrot Yield and its Quality

Summary Modifications in growing techniques can affect the yield and nutritional quality of various cultivated plants. Among them, the use of biostimulants is environmental friendly method of stimulating crop productivity, stress resistance, and affecting yield or chemical composition of the plants. The aim of the investigation was determining of the effect of biostimulant treatment on yield and its quality of carrot grown for summer harvest. The experiment was carried out in 2009-2011 in the experimental station of the University of Agriculture in Krakow, south Poland. Two experimental factors were taken into consideration: (1) cultivar: Nandrin F1 and Napoli F1 (2) dose of Aminoplant (foliar application): 1.5 and 3.0 dm3∙ha-1 and control (without Aminoplant). Total and marketable yield, root length, its diameter, leaf mass and leaf : root mass ratio were assessed. The dry matter, soluble sugar, carotenoids and nitrate ions contents were analyzed as main determinants of carrot nutritional quality. Aminoplant influenced not only carrot productivity, but mainly chemical composition of the roots. The present results also suggest that carrot reaction to biostimulant treatment was depended on a cultivar more than on environmental conditions in particular growing seasons. The significant effect of Aminoplant in a dose of 1.5 dm3∙ha-1 on the yield of roots and leaf rosette mass of ‘Nandrin F1’ appeared only in the first year of the experiment. Spraying with Aminoplant in a dose of 3.0 dm3∙ha-1 significantly increased the soluble sugars content in carrot roots of both cultivars but only in 2011. Dry matter content was also affected by biostimulant treatment mainly for ‘Napoli F1’, which showed the lowest dry matter content when sprayed with Aminoplant in a dose of 1.5 dm3∙ha-1. In 2010 control plants contained the greater amount of carotenoids, while in next year roots of plants treated with Aminoplant in a dose of 3.0 dm3∙ha-1 had more these compounds. The significant effect of Aminoplant on nitrates content in carrot roots was observed but were not repeatable in the experimental years, so different climatic conditions modified carrot reaction on biostimulant spraying. Streszczenie We współczesnym ogrodnictwie stosowane są szeroko nowoczesne techniki optymalizujące wysokość i jakość plonu. Wśród nich wykorzystanie biostymulatorów jest przyjazną środowisku metodą zwiększającą produktywność roślin, tolerancję na czynniki stresowe, jak również plon i wartość odżywczą. Celem prezentowanych badań była ocena wpływu biostymulatora na wysokość i jakość plonu marchwi, uprawianej na zbiór letni. Eksperyment przeprowadzono w latach 2009-2011 w Uniwersytecie Rolniczym w Krakowie, obejmował on dwa czynniki badawcze: (1) odmiana: Nandrin F1 i Napoli F1, (2) dawka biostymulatora Aminoplant, zastosowanego dolistnie: kontrola (bez aplikacji biostymulatora), 1.5 i 3.0 dm3∙ha-1. Określono plon ogólny i handlowy marchwi, długość korzenia, jego średnicę, masę rozety liściowej oraz stosunek masy liści do masy korzenia. Oznaczono zawartość suchej masy, cukrów rozpuszczalnych, karotenoidów i azotanów, jako głównych wyznaczników wartości odżywczej marchwi. Aplikacja Aminoplantu wpłynęła nie tylko na produktywność marchwi, ale przede wszystkim na skład chemiczny korzeni. Prezentowane wyniki pozwalają na stwierdzenie, że reakcja marchwi na dolistne zastosowanie biostymulatora zależała przede wszystkim od odmiany oraz od warunków środowiskowych w latach badań. W pierwszym roku zaznaczył się istotny wpływ Aminoplantu w dawce 1.5 dm3∙ha-1 na plon korzeni i masę rozety odmiany Nandrin F1. Aplikacja biostymulatora w dawce 3.0 dm3∙ha-1 istotnie zwiększyła zawartość cukrów rozpuszczalnych w korzeniach badanych odmian, ale tylko w 2011 roku. W korzeniach odmiany Napoli F1 najniższą zawartość suchej masy stwierdzono przy oprysku dawką biostymulatora 1.5 dm3∙ha-1. W 2010, najwyższy poziom karotenoidów stwierdzono w roślinach kontrolnych, podczas gdy w roku następnym - w roślinach traktowanych Aminoplantem w dawce 3.0 dm3∙ha-1. Odnotowano również istotny wpływ badanego biostymulatora na zawartość azotanów, ale bez powtarzalnych tendencji w poszczególnych latach badań. W przypadku tego parametru odmienne warunki klimatyczne modyfikowały reakcję roślin na opryskiwanie biostymulatorem.

The effect of preliminary chilling of broccoli transplants on some antioxidative parameters

Abstract The aim of this study was to introduce older transplants of broccoli into field conditions to shorten their growing period and to obtain a crop with a high nutritive value. The additional storage of relatively old (four- and eightweek- old) transplants in a cold chamber before planting in the field shortens the growing period; however, it can influence the chemical composition of the leaves and heads. According to earlier research, the preliminary chilling of transplants affected the high yielding of broccoli; a determination of the quality of plants, including select health-promoting properties, was necessary for their full characteristics. In the present work, the four- and eight-week-old broccoli transplants were kept at 2°C either for one or two weeks before planting in the field. Catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) activity as well and the accumulation of phenolic compounds were determined in the leaves of the transplants before and after chilling. The same parameters were detected in the leaves and heads of broccoli at harvest time. The effect of low temperature treatment on CAT activity was observed only at the stage of transplants; however, the increased activity of POD stimulated by chilling was maintained during the growing period until the harvest. The reaction of the plants to low temperatures can be connected with their mechanism against stress conditions and seems to vary in the case of those antioxidative enzymes. The effect of chilling on the accumulation of phenolics (total, cinnamic acid derivatives, flavonols) was noted only in transplants and was not evident during the harvest. The differences observed between the individual seasons of the experiment, both in enzyme activity and synthesis of phenolics, were most likely caused by the differing climatic conditions

Effects of Age and Cold Storage of Transplants on the Growth and Quality of Broccoli Heads

Effects of Age and Cold Storage of Transplants on the Growth and Quality of Broccoli Heads In the two-factor field experiment conducted in 2002-2004 the effect of transplant age and the time of storage on the yield of broccoli cv. ‘Lord F1’ was investigated. Transplants were stored in freon cold room without access to light at +2°C and a relative air humidity of 80-85%. Both investigated factors had no significant effect on crop acceleration. Plants obtained from 4-week old transplants gained marketable yield significantly higher than plants obtained from 10-week old transplants. Significantly higher yield was obtained from transplants stored in a cooling room as compared to non-stored transplants. No univocal effect of the transplant age on the percentage of hollow stems was demonstrated. Wpływ Wieku I Okresu Przechowywania Rozsady W Chłodni Na Wzrost I Jakość Róż Brokułu W trzyletnim doświadczeniu badano wpływ wieku rozsady i okresu jej przetrzymywania na plonowanie brokułu odmiany ‘Lord F1’. Rozsadę przechowywano w chłodni bez dostępu światła w temperaturze +2°C, wilgotności względnej powietrza 80-85%. Stwierdzono, że zarówno wiek rozsady jak i długość okresu jej przechowywania nie miał znaczącego wpływu na przyspieszenie plonowania. Rośliny otrzymane z rozsady 4-tygodniowej wydały plon handlowy istotnie większy niż z rozsady 10- tygodniowej. Stwierdzono istotnie większy plon u roślin uprawianych z rozsady przechowywanej w chłodni w porównaniu z rozsadą nie przechowywaną. Nie stwierdzono jednoznacznego wpływu wieku rozsady na liczbę pustych przestrzeni w łodygach róży.

The effects of different methods of cultivation and plant spacing on the chemical composition of broccoli heads.

Abstract The aim of the present experiment was to assess the influence of the method of cultivation and spacing on the market and nutritive quality of ‘Lord F1’ broccoli heads. The experiment was conducted at the University of Agriculture in Krakow, Poland, in 2002-2004. The method of broccoli cultivation (direct sowing or transplanting, and spacing: 20, 30, 40 and 50 cm × 67.5 cm) had no clear influence on the dry matter content in the heads. The mean dry matter content in broccoli heads was 9.5%, and reducing sugar was 1.12% of fresh matter. In 2002 and 2004, transplanting resulted in an increase of soluble sugar content as compared to direct sowing. The element content in broccoli was dependent mainly on the vegetation season, but in many cases directly sown plants had more phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. With the increase of spacing in rows the content of some elements (P, K, Ca, Mg) in broccoli heads rose in the first year of the experiment. The mean content of elements found in broccoli heads was as follows (in mg kg-1 of dry matter): phosphorus 6001, potassium 23447, calcium 3696, magnesium 1583, and iron 66.7.