Fertilizer effect on proximate composition and nutritive value of exotic/minor vegetable crops

Purpose: A study was conducted on the effect of single-based fertilizers and compound fertilizers on the nutritive quality potential of lettuce (var. Eden), sweet pepper (var. Yellow wonder), and carrot (var. Bahia). Research method: This was accomplished following Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with four replications. Lettuce, sweet pepper, and carrot were fertilized using ۷۱ kg, ۱۰۰ kg, and ۱۲۸ kg of ammonium sulphate (۲۰.۵ % N, ۲۳.۴ % S)/ha, ۳۵۰ kg of NPK (۱۵-۱۵-۱۵)/ha, and Control/No fertilizer application; ۸۱ kg, ۱۰۰ kg, and ۱۳۸ kg of ۶-۲۴-۱۲ NPK/ha, ۲۲۵ kg of NPK (۱۵-۱۵-۱۵)/ha, and Control; and on ۴۳ kg, ۷۱ kg, and ۱۰۰ kg of ۱۰-۱۰-۳۰ NPK/ha, ۲۲۵ kg of NPK (۱۵-۱۵-۱۵)/ha, and Control; respectively. Findings: Compound fertilizer resulted in high Fe content in lettuce whiles Single ۲ treatment was in favour of that in carrot and sweet pepper. Single ۳ treatment resulted in high Ca content in lettuce and sweet pepper whiles Single ۲ treatment was in favour of that in carrot. Compound fertilizer resulted in high Mg content in lettuce whiles Single ۳ treatment was in favour of that in carrot and sweet pepper. Crude protein content of lettuce, carrot, and sweet pepper was significantly high in the single-based fertilizer treatments. Compound fertilizer treatments recorded high carbohydrate content for lettuce and sweet pepper. All treatments recorded high moisture and high fat content. Limitations: No limitations. Originality/Value: Proximate composition patterns were strikingly dissimilar in all test crops.

Keywords:

Compound fertilizer , Fresh market , Nutritive value , Single-based fertilizer , Vegetable crops