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Research article2008Peer reviewed

Organically fertilized onions (Allium cepa L.): Effects of the fertilizer placement method on quercetin content and soil nitrogen dynamics

Mogren, Lars M.; Caspersen, Siri; Olsson, Marie E.; Gertsson, Ulla E.

Abstract

Field-cured onions cv. Hyskin (Allium cepa L.) supplied with organic nitrogen fertilizer were studied. The fertilizer was applied by broadcasting and harrowing, broadcasting and rotary cultivation, or placement between rows. Nitrogen dynamics were monitored throughout the growing season by soil sampling. Variation in quercetin content in the onion scales was analyzed by HPLC. The organically fertilized onions were compared with inorganically fertilized onions grown in the same field. Inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in the row at sowing or during commercial transplant production was tested but did not significantly affect mycorrhizal root colonization levels in the field. Onions that received no fertilizer at all or that had fertilizer placed between rows had better establishment, probably due to more favorable soil nitrogen concentrations for seedling emergence. Broadcast application led to higher nitrogen concentration in the root zone, resulting in fewer but larger individual onions. Quercetin levels were not significantly altered as a result of nitrogen fertilizer source (inorganic or organic), application method, or mycorrhizal inoculation. However, variation between years was significant, with quercetin levels in 2004 almost twice as high as those in 2005.

Keywords

Allium cepa; onion; quercetin glucosides; organic fertilizer; inorganic fertilizer; nitrogen fertilizer; arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF); HPLC

Published in

Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
2008, Volume: 56, number: 2, pages: 361-367
Publisher: AMER CHEMICAL SOC

      SLU Authors

    • Mogren, Lars

      • Horticulture, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

        • Olsson, Marie

          • Horticulture, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

          • Gertsson, Ulla

            • Horticulture, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

          UKÄ Subject classification

          Food Science

          Publication identifier

          DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/jf071813a

          Permanent link to this page (URI)

          https://res.slu.se/id/publ/17480