Field-Scale Evaluation of Botanical Extracts Effect on the Yield, Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Celeriac (Apium graveolens L. Var. rapaceum).

Katarzyna Godlewska,Natalia Pachura,Urszula Piszcz,Anita Biesiada,Izabela Michalak,Antoni Szumny,Paweł Pacyga

doi:10.3390/molecules25184212

Abstract

The use of higher plants for the production of plant growth biostimulants is receiving increased attention among scientists, farmers, investors, consumers and regulators. The aim of the present study was to examine the possibility of converting plants commonly occurring in Europe (St. John’s wort, giant goldenrod, common dandelion, red clover, nettle, valerian) into valuable and easy to use bio-products. The biostimulating activity of botanical extracts and their effect on the chemical composition of celeriac were identified. Plant-based extracts, obtained by ultrasound-assisted extraction and mechanical homogenisation, were tested in field trials. It was found that the obtained formulations increased the total yield of leaves rosettes and roots, the dry weight of leaves rosettes and roots, the content of chlorophyll a + b and carotenoids, the greenness index of leaves, the content of vitamin C in leaves and roots. They mostly decreased the content of polyphenols and antioxidant activities in leaves but increased them in roots and conversely affected the nitrates content. Extracts showed a varied impact on the content of micro and macroelements, as well as the composition of volatile compounds and fatty acids in the celeriac biomass. Due to the modulatory properties of the tested products, they may be used successfully in sustainable horticulture.

Highlights

One of the greatest issues confronting the global agriculture is how to ensure the sustainable production of sufficient amounts of food, fibre and bioenergy to fulfil the needs of a growing world population that is forecast to reach 10 billion by 2050 [1,2]
The fresh weight of celeriac (Table 1), in roots size range < 5 cm, increased in the group treated with Tp F ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE) by 29.9% and by 86.6% for roots and with To F UAE by 152.4% and 104.9% for leaves rosette compared with C and commercial biostimulant (CB), respectively
For the production of bio-products, two methods were applied: ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE) and mechanical shearing combined with sonic energy (MH)

Summary

Introduction

One of the greatest issues confronting the global agriculture is how to ensure the sustainable production of sufficient amounts of food, fibre and bioenergy to fulfil the needs of a growing world population that is forecast to reach 10 billion by 2050 [1,2] To achieve this aim, whilst maintaining actual prices, the crop yields should be enhanced by 1.1–1.2% annually with reference to the levels in 2010 [3]. The fertilisation effectiveness remains comparatively low, which is caused by the fact that only 50–60% of N [5,6] and K and 10–25% of P are estimated to be utilised by cultivated plants [5] Taking this into account, the global demand for N has been expected to reach 107 teragrams (Tg) N per year (with a limit of 50 Tg N reactive not absorbed by plants) by the year 2050 [2]. Nitrogen is a crucial nutrient for the proper growth of crops and is a restrictive agent for food production [2] so it stands to reason that there is a need to seek a solution to enhance the efficiency of N fertilisers utilisation [9] without negative effects on the natural environment [6]

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