Enhancing the nutritional value of sweet pepper through sustainable fertilization management

IntroductionThe need for healthy foods has become a major concern in our modern world, as the global population continues to grow and environmental challenges intensify. In response to these challenges, researchers have started to explore a range of sustainable solutions, including organic farming practices, precision agriculture, and the development and testing of innovative biofertilizers. Consistent with these ideas come the aim of this study, which sets out to give new insights into the cultivation of two sweet pepper cultivars with economic and nutritional importance in Romania.MethodsTwo sweet pepper cultivars (Blancina and Brillant), chemically (Nutrifine®), organically (Orgevit®) and biologically (Micoseed®) fertilized were cultivated over the course of two years (2019 and 2020), between April and October, in high-tunnel, by following a split-plot design with three replications. Production parameters (number of fruits, fruit weight, yield), proximate composition (water content, dry matter, total soluble solids, acidity, ash), the content of phytonutrients (polyphenols, lycopene, β-carotene, antioxidant activity), phytochemical composition (phenolic compounds) and minerals (macro- and micro-elements) were analyzed in order to determine the impact of fertilization on the quality of sweet peppers.ResultsThe results showed that the biological and organic fertilizations had a significant positive impact on most of the parameters analyzed, starting with yield and continuing with acidity, phytonutrient content (total phenolic content, lycopene, β-carotene), antioxidant activity and phytochemical composition (chlorogenic acid, p-coumaric acid, quercetin and isoquercetin). Only in the case of mineral content, the chemical treatment gave better results compared with the organic and biological fertilizers.ConclusionOverall, this study provides valuable information on the potential of organic and biological fertilizers to enhance the nutritional value of sweet peppers from Blancina F1 and Brillant F1 cultivars, paving the way for subsequent research aimed at achieving superior quality and increased yields

Influenţa aplicării unor fertilizanţi diferiţi asupra producţiei de păstăi la trei cultivare de fasole pitică

The paper aim is to evaluate the production capacity of three varieties of dwarf bean -Ferrari, Rocquencourt and Maxidor (C) -under different fertilization conditions: organic-Orgevit-600 kg/ha, chemical-50 kg/ha, with microorganisms-50 kg/ha and the non-fertilized control variant. The experiment was established in the Experimental Field of Vegetable Growing, the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Iasi, in the 2016-2017 period. The crop was set up by direct sowing in the field, in three-rows bands, the distance between the bands being 60 cm and between the rows 45 cm. Plant spacing was set at 5 cm, resulting in a density of about 400 thousand plants/ha. The experimental results, under the above mentioned conditions, demonstrate the usefulness of the fertilization of the dwarf bean culture for the pods, the highest yield being obtained by applying chemical and microorganisms fertilizatio

Dynamic of phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity, and yield of rhubarb under chemical, organic and biological fertilization

In recent years, rhubarb is being increasingly cultivated, as it provides early yields when the vegetables supply to market is deficient and shows high levels of both polyphenols content and antioxidant capacity in edible parts. In 2017, we investigated crops of the rhubarb cultivar Victoria to the fifth year of production. Comparisons were performed between three root phase fertilizations—chemical (NPK 16-16-16®), organic (Orgevit®), and biological (Micoseeds MB®)—plus an unfertilized control. The determinations of polyphenols, the antioxidant capacity, and the yield indicators from the stalks (petioles) of rhubarb were made at each out of the 10 harvests carried out. The highest yield (59.16 t·ha−1) was recorded under the chemical fertilization. The total polyphenols content and antioxidant capacity varied widely from 533.86 mg GAE·g−1 d.w. and 136.86 mmol Trolox·g−1 d.w., respectively in the unfertilized control at the last harvest, up to 3966.56 mg GAE·g−1 d.w. and 1953.97 mmol Trolox·g−1 d.w. respectively under the organic fertilization at the four harvest. From the results of our investigation, it can be inferred that the chemical fertilization was the most effective in terms of yield, whereas the sustainable nutritional management based on organic fertilizer supply led to higher antioxidant compounds and activity

Studiu privind influenţa diferitelor variante de mulcire asupra capacităţii agroproductive a patru cultivare diferite de busuioc

The goalof this paper is toevaluatethe effect of mulching on the yield of four basil cultivars,cultivated according to the ecological agricultural rules:Aromat de Buzau–green basil, Serafim–violet basil, Macedon–lemon-flavoured basil and a clove-flavoured basil local population.The experiment was carried outduring2018, in theexperimental fieldof Vegetable Growing Disciplineof U.S.A.M.V. Iasi. The cropwas established via seedlings, at distances of 50 x 20 cm, resulting a density of 100000 plants/ha. The obtained results showed that the factors cultivar and mulching applicationhad a significant relevance on yield. Cultivars determined significant yield differences and mulching application determined an important increase of the yield (16.8%)

Influence of ecological foliar fertilizers on yield and morphometric parameters in cultivated medicinal and aromatic plants (basil, marigold, artichoke)

The significance of cultivating aromatic and medicinal plants in ecological settings derives also from the fact that the usage of such species implies direct contact with humans, through consumption or otherwise. Enhanced knowledge of herbs and spices and their ecological cropping is required for a better exploitation of their outstanding properties and which are based on biologically active substances such as alkaloids, phenolic compounds or essential oils. This paper includes the results of the research conducted within UASVM Iasi, Faculty of Agronomy, focused on the influence of ecological foliar fertilizers (Fylo®, Geolino Plants&Flowers®, Cropmax®, Fitokondi®) on the yield and morphological indices on medicinal and aromatic plants: basil, marigold and artichoke. Our results showed positive effects of ecological foliar fertilizers on the investigated plant species, especially on the yield of fresh herbs

Quality Performances of Sweet Pepper under Farming Management

Conventional management of sweet pepper is based on farming practices characterized by the use of chemicals with harmful environmental impact. In order to investigate innovative production, research was carried out in order to assess the effects of two pepper cultivars ('Brillant' and 'Yolo Wonder') in combination with four farming systems (Conventional control-C; Conventional with microorganism-enriched fertilization-CMF; Organic control-O; Organic with microorganism-enriched fertilization-OMF) on plant physiological parameters, yield and fruit quality. Conventionally grown plants showed higher values of assimilatory pigments and of photosynthetic rate compared to the Organically ones. The CMF resulted in the highest early and total yield, followed by the OMF, due to higher fruit number. Higher values of carotenoids, ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol were recorded in 'Yolo Wonder' red fruits compared to 'Brillant' yellow berries. The highest total polyphenols concentration was recorded under the CMF, whereas OMF resulted in the highest flavonoids concentration and antioxidant activity

The effect of myco‐biocontrol based formulates on yield, physiology and secondary products of organically grown basil

The development of organic farming as a result of increasing consumer preference for organic food has led to the development and registration of new pest‐control products for certified organic production. In this study, the effects of three biocontrol products containing spores and mycelium of Arthrobotrys oligospora—Artis®, Beauveria bassiana—Bora®, and Coniothyrium minitans— Öko‐ni® were tested on four basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) cultivars: ‘Aromat de Buzau’, ‘Serafim’, ‘Macedon’ and ‘Cuisoare’. The application of Öko‐ni® increased basil yields by 8% relative to Control. The application of Bora® increased chlorophyll content of basil leaves by 2% and the activity of photosynthesis by 66% relative to the Control. Basil essential oil (EO) content was increased by 18% with the application of Artis® and by 34% with the application of Bora® and Öko‐ni®, respectively. The content of phenolic compounds analyzed by HPLC varied; caffeic acid concentration was higher in the plants treated with Öko‐ni®, hyperoside, isoquercitrin and rutin concentrations were higher in those treated with Artis®, while the quercitrin content was higher in Bora®‐treated plants. The two main EO constituents that were identified were linalool and methyl chavicol in ‘Aromat de Buzau’, linalool and eugenol in ‘Serafim’, neral and geranial in ‘Macedon’, also linalool and eugenol in ‘Cuisoare’. The investigated myco‐biocontrol products had positive effects on basil fresh biomass and EO content and also influenced the content of phenolic compounds

Interaction Effects of Cultivars and Nutrition on Quality and Yield of Tomato

Tomato is considered the most important vegetable crop worldwide. Improving the nutritional value of fruits must be based on sustainable production in terms of varieties and fertilization management. This study aimed to improve the nutritional value (total soluble solids, acidity, lycopene, β-carotene, polyphenols, macro and microelements) of two tomato varieties (‘Cristal’ and ‘Siriana’) under three fertilization types (NPK chemical fertilizer, chicken manure and biological fertilizer with microorganisms) for the greenhouse. Primary metabolism compounds do not vary significantly according to the type of fertilizer used. The results for the antioxidant compounds showed a better effect of biological fertilization compared to chemical fertilizer and control unfertilized. Thus, the antioxidant activity was improved by 28% compared to chemical fertilization, the lycopene content by 36% and β-carotene by 96%, respectively. The tomato fruits from the local cultivar (‘Siriana’) are richer in nutritional compounds such as rutin, regardless of the type of fertilization, which denotes a good ability to adapt to crop conditions. Tomato cultivars reacted positively to microbiological fertilization compared to chemical, thus producing nutritious fruits under sustainable management. Tomato fruits were richer in the quality of microelement contents

Differential branching fraction and angular analysis of the decay B0→K∗0μ+μ−

The angular distribution and differential branching fraction of the decay B 0→ K ∗0 μ + μ − are studied using a data sample, collected by the LHCb experiment in pp collisions at s√=7 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb−1. Several angular observables are measured in bins of the dimuon invariant mass squared, q 2. A first measurement of the zero-crossing point of the forward-backward asymmetry of the dimuon system is also presented. The zero-crossing point is measured to be q20=4.9±0.9GeV2/c4 , where the uncertainty is the sum of statistical and systematic uncertainties. The results are consistent with the Standard Model predictions