Loading...
| Name: | Description: | Size: | Format: | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 789.09 KB | Adobe PDF |
Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
The aim of the work is the evaluation of the effect of nitrogen fertilization on fruit quality during postharvest
conservation at low temperatures. Melon cultivation was fulfilled at open air with a plastic mulch and drip
irrigation (100% of crop evapotranspiration). Nitrogen fertilization was applied at 0, 50, 100 and 150 kg
N ha-1. Melon fruits were harvested at 48-50 d (days) after fruit set, and stored at 9±1 ºC and 85 % RH
during 10, 20 and 30 d. After each period of conservation colour, firmness, soluble solids, vitamin C and
total nitrogen contents from pulp tissue were analysed. The % fruit weight loss was determined too. No
influence from the level of nitrogen fertilization on the quality parameters analysed has been detected. As
expected, only total nitrogen content in fruit was affected by the different fertilization treatments. During
conservation fruit firmness gradually diminished, % weight loss gradually augmented and at the end of
storage vitamin C content decreased. The whole set of results showed that melon plant cultivation could be
carried out with low levels of nitrogen fertilization without negatively affecting quality during postharvest,
but a compromise must be found in order to avoid a negative effect on fruit production.
Description
Proceedings of the International Conference “Environmentally friendly and safe
technologies for quality of fruit and vegetables”, held in Universidade do Algarve, Faro,
Portugal, on January 14-16, 2009. This Conference was a join activity with COST Action 924.
Keywords
Conservation Fertilization Fruit quality Melon fruit