Abstract
Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.) is a medicinal and edible plant species with a high economic potential. In most European countries nettle is still not produced commercially but is collected from natural habitats. This plant requires large amounts of nitrogen for its improved growth and satisfactory yield, which can result in accumulation of harmful nitrates and reducing of raw material quality. Mentioned problems can be solved by controlling the amount of nitrogen through fertilization, i.e. introduction of stinging nettle into agricultural production. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of three nitrogen fertilization doses (0, 100 and 200 kg N ha-1) on the chemical composition of cultivated nettle in the second year of growing. The harvest of the nettle for consumption in fresh form was carried out before flowering and six harvests were performed. It was found that cultivated nettle is a valuable source of potassium [2.27% K dry weight (dw)], calcium (5.21% Ca dw) and iron (2765 ppm Fe dw). Fresh nettle herb contained high amounts of ascorbic acid [63.75 mg 100 g-1 fresh weight (fw)] and total phenols (732.49 mg GAE 100 g-1 fw), correlated with its high antioxidant capacity (1936.58 mM Trolox L-1 fw). The highest nitrogen dose (200 kg ha-1) increased the content of crude protein and calcium, however resulted in higher nitrate content and lower values of dry matter, iron, total phenols and ascorbic acid. Therefore, fertilization with 100 kg N ha-1 could be recommended in production of nettle with a high nutritional value.
Highlights
Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.), a perennial plant species from the Urticaceae family, is widely distributed throughout the temperate regions of the world (Bacci et al, 2009; Kaya and Aydin, 2009)
Fertilization was applied in the form of calcium ammonium nitrate (27% N, Petrokemija, Croatia) given as a split application: half dose of nitrogen fertilizer was added in the beginning of vegetation and the remaining amount was divided into two parts and given in intervals of 40 days
The experiment proved that cultivated nettle is a valuable food resource in human nutrition, since is rich in minerals, especially iron, vitamin C, total phenols and has high antioxidant capacity
Summary
Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.), a perennial plant species from the Urticaceae family, is widely distributed throughout the temperate regions of the world (Bacci et al, 2009; Kaya and Aydin, 2009). Numerous studies have been conducted with wild nettle (Guil-Guerrero et al, 2003; Gülçin et al, 2004; Ozyurt et al, 2007; Özkan et al, 2011; Kukrić et al, 2012; Otles and Yalcin, 2012; Andualem et al 2015), in recent years interest about cultivated nettle is increasing (Biesiada and Wołoszczak 2007; Grevsen et al, 2008; Biesiada et al, 2009) The reason for such trend is the raising concern about health, since the wild plant material collected from natural habitats may be of questionable nutritional and medicinal value.
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