Yield and Mineral Content of Stinging Nettle as Affected by Nitrogen Fertilization

Authors
1 Department of Vegetable Crops, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Svetošimunska Cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
2 Department of Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Svetošimunska Cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
Abstract
Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.) is a valuable multifunctional plant species, mainly collected from natural habitats, but, quality of such plant material is rather variable. Cultivation of the plant allows for controlling some environmental factors and enhances the quality of the product. The goal of this research was to determine the influence of different doses of nitrogen fertilization (0, 100, and 200 kg N ha-1) on yield, dry matter content, crude proteins and mineral content in stinging nettle herbage collected at flowering time. Results of the study showed that nitrogen fertilization had a negative effect on the amount of dry matter, content of phosphorus, potassium, and trace elements. Crude proteins significantly increased with use of larger amounts of nitrogen fertilizer and the highest value was recorded in the last harvest at 200 kg N ha-1 (180.0 g kg-1). The amount of iron measured in this research was very variable (0.62-2.96 g kg-1) and much higher compared to the other studies on stinging nettle and similar leafy vegetables rich in iron. The highest total yield of fresh stinging nettle herbagewas achieved at 200 kg N ha-1 (15.18 t ha-1), however, in the absence of nitrogen fertilization, the highest values of mineral composition and dry matter content were recorded.

Keywords


AOAC. 1995. Official Method 975.03: Metals in Plants and Pet Foods. Official Methods of Analysis of AOAC International. 16th ed. AOAC International, Washington DC, USA.Bergmann, W. 1992. Nutritional Disorders of Plants. (Ed.): Fischer, G., Verlag Jena, Stuttgart, New York.Biesiada, A., Kucharska, A. Z., Sokόł-Łętowska, A. and Kuś, A. 2010. Effect of the Age of Plant, Plantation and Harvest Term on Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica L.). Ecol. Chem. Eng. S., 17(9): 1061-1067.Biesiada, A. and Wołoszczak, E. 2007. The Effect of Method of Plantation Establishing on Yield and Chlorophyll Concentration of Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica L.) in the First year of Cultivation. Herba Pol., 53(3): 85-89.Biesiada, A., Wołoszczak, E., Sokόł-Łętowska, A., Kucharska, A. Z. and Nawirska-Olszańska, A. 2009. The Effect of Nitrogen Form and Dose on Yield, Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica L.). Herba Pol., 55(3): 84-93.Bisht, S., Bhandari, S. and Bisht, N.S. 2012. Urtica dioica (L): An Undervalued, Economically Important Plant. Agric. Sci. Res. J., 5: 250-252.Çalışkan, Ӧ. and Ayan, A. K. 2011. The Effects of Different Doses of Organic NPK Fertilizer on Yield and Yield Components in Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica L.). Anadolu J. Agr. Sci., 26(3): 217-220.Ćustić, M., Horvatić, M. and Butorac, A. 2002. Effects of Nitrogen Fertilization upon the Content of Essential Amino A+cids in Head Cichory (Cichorium intybus L. var. foliosum). Sci. Hort., 92(3): 205-2015.Diaconu, D., Diaconu, R. and Navrotescu, T. 2012. Estimation of Heavy Metals in Medicinal Plants and Their Infusions. Ovidius Univ. Annal. Chem., 23 (1): 115-120.Di Virgilio, N., Papazoglou, E. G., Jankauskiene, Z., Di Lonardo, S., Praczyk, M. and Wielgusz, K. 2014. The Potential of Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica L.) as a Crop with Multiple Uses. Ind. Crop. Prod., 68: 42-49.Egener, H., Riehm, H. and Domingo, W. R. 1960. Untersuchungen über die Chemische Bodenanalyse als Grundlage für die Beurteilung des Nahrstoffzustandes der Boden. II. Chemische Extractions Methoden zur Phosphor-und Kaliumbestimmung. Lantbrukshogskolam Annaler, 25: 199-215.Fabek, S., Toth, N., Radojčić Redovniković, I., Herak Ćustić, M., Benko, B. and Žutić, I. 2012. The Effect of Nitrogen Fertilization on Nitrate Accumulation and the Content of Minerals and Glucosinolates in Broccoli Cultivars. Food Technol. Biotech., 50(2): 183-191.Grevsen, K., Frette, X. C. and Christensen L. P. 2008. Concentration and Composition of Flavonol Glycosides and Phenolic Acids in Aerial Parts of Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica L.) Are Affected by Nitrogen Fertilization and by Harvest Time. Europ. J. Hort. Sci., 73(1):20-27.Guil-Guerrero, J. L., Rebolloso-Fuentes, M. M. and Torija Isasa, M. E. 2003. Fatty Acids and Carotenoids from Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica L.). J. Food Comp. Anal., 16(2): 111-119.Gülçin, I., Küfrevioǧlu, Ö. İ., Oktay, M. and Büyükokuroǧlu, M. E. 2004. Antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiulcer and analgesic activities of nettle (Urtica dioica L.). J. Ethnopharmacol., 90 (2): 205-215.Herak Ćustić, M., Petek, M., Toth, N., Poljak, M. and Ćosić, T. 2007. Effects of Organic and Mineral Fertilization on NPK Status in Soil and Plant, and Yield of Red Beet (Beta vulgaris var. conditiva). Cereal Res. Commun., 35(2): 449-452.Hojnik, M., Škerget, M.and Knez, Ž. 2007. Isolation of Chlorophylls from Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica L.). Sep. Purif. Technol., 57(1): 37–46.HRN ISO 10390. 2004. Soil Quality: Determination of pH. Croatian Standard Institute, Zagreb.HRN ISO 11465. 2004. Gravimetric Method: Determination of Dry Matter and Water Content on a Mass Basis. Croatian Standard Institute, Zagreb.HRN ISO 13878. 2004. Elementary Analysis: Determination of Total Nitrogen Content with Dry Combustion. Croatian Standard Institute, Zagreb.HRN ISO 14235. 2004. Soil Quality: Determination of Organic Matter with Oxidation Method. Croatian Standard Institute, Zagreb.Kleitz, K. M., Wall, M. M., Falk, C. L., Martin, C. A., Remmenga, M. D. and Guldan, S. J. 2008. Stand Establishment and Yield Potential of Organically Grown Seeded and Transplanted Medicinal Herbs. HortTechnol., 18(1):116-121.Kmecl, V. and Žnidarčič, D., 2015. Accreditation of the Analytical Method Used for Nitrate Determination in Vegetables. Arch. Biol. Sci., Belgrade, 67(1): 295-302.Konieczyński, P. and Wesołowski, M. 2007. Determination of Zinc, Iron, Nitrogen and Phosphorus in Several Botanical Species of Medicinal Plants. Pol. J. Environ. Stud., 16(5): 785-790.Kopyt'ko, Ya. F., Lapinskaya, E. S. and Sokol'skaya, T. A. 2012. Application, Chemical Composition, and Standardization of Nettle Raw Material and Related Drugs: Review. Pharm. Chem. J.,45(10): 622-63.Maryam, B., Ansari, N. A. and Dehcordie, F. S. 2007. Effect of Cultivars, Harvesting Time and Level of Nitrogen Fertilizer on Nitrate and Nitrite Content, Yield in Romaine Lettuce. Asian J. Plant Sci., 6: 550-553.Martínez-Ballesta, M. C., Dominquez-Perles, R., Moreno, D. A., Muries, B., Alcaraz-Lόpez, C., Bastías, E., García-Viguera, C. and Carvajal, M. 2010. Minerals in Plant Food: Effect of Agricultural Practices and Role in Human Health. Agron. Sustain. Dev., 30: 295-309.Martínez-Ballest, M. C., Lόpez-Pérez, L., Lόpez-Berenguer, M. H. C., Fernández-García, N. and Carvajal, M. 2008. Agricultural Practices for Enhanced Human Health. Phytochem. Rev., 7(2): 251-260.Mohsenabadi, Gh. R., Jahansooz, M. R., Chaichi, M. R., Rahimian Mashhadi, H., Liaghat, A. M. and Savaghebi, Gh. R. 2008. Evaluation of Barley–vetch Intercrop at Different Nitrogen Rates. J. Agri. Sci. Tech., 10: 23-31Nica, D., Bordean, D. M., Gergen, I., Bura, M. and Vintila, T. 2012. Comparative Assessment of Trace Metal Accumulation in Celery and Nettle Leaves. J. Hortic. Sci. Biotech., 16(2): 217-220.Oplanić, M., Ban, D., Ilak-Peršurić, A., Žnidarčič, D., 2009. Profitability of Leek (Allium porrum L.) in Three Production Systems. J. Food Agric. Environ., 7(3/4): 376-381Otles, S. and Yalcin, B. 2012. Phenolic Compounds Analysis of Root, Stalk and Leaves of Nettle. ScientificWorld J., 2012:1-12.Petek, M., Herak Ćustić, M., Čoga, L. and Pecina, M. 2008. Phosphorus Content in Soil and in Fresh and Cooked Red Beet in Dependence on Different Fertilization. Cereal Res. Commun., 36: 435-438.Petek, M., Herak Ćustić, M., Toth, N., Slunjski, S., Čoga, L., Pavlović, I., Karažija, T., Lazarević, B. and Cvetković, S. 2012. Nitrogen and Crude Proteins in Beetroot (Beta vulgaris var. conditiva) under Different Fertilization Treatments. Not. Bot. Horti. Agrobo.,40(2):215-219.Radman, S., Fabek, S., Žutić, I., Benko, B. and Toth, N. 2014. Stinging Nettle Cultivation in Floating Hydropon. Contemp. Agric., 63 (3): 215-223.Rutto, L. K., Ansari, M. S. and Brandt, M. 2012. Biomass Yield and Dry Matter Partitioning in Greenhouse-grown Stinging Nettle under Different Fertilization Regimes. HortTechnol., 22 (6): 751-756.Rutto, L. K., Xu, Y., Ramirez, E. and Brandt, M. 2013. Mineral Properties and Dietary Value of Raw and Processed Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica L.). Int. J. Food Sci.; 2013. Article ID 857120, 9 PP; http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/857120Santamaria, P., Elia, A., Serio, F. and Todaro, E. 1999. A Survey of Nitrate and Oxalate Content in Fresh Vegetables. J. Sci. Food Agric., 79(13): 1882-1888.SAS®/STAT 9.3. 2010. SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA.Sørensen, J. N. 1998. Nitrogen Effects on Vegetable Crop Production and Chemical Composition, Acta Hortic., 506: 41-50.Szewczuk, C. and Mazur, M. 2004. Effect of Different Rates of Nitrogen Fertilizers on Chemical Composition of Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica L.) Plants Harvested at Three Development Stages. Acta Sci. Pol., Agric., 3(1): 239-248.Ugrinović, K. 1998. Effect of Nitrogen Fertilization on Quality and Yield of Red Beet (Beta vulgaris var. conditiva Alef.). Acta Hortic., 506: 99-104.Upton, R. 2013. Stinging Nettles Leaf (Urtica dioica L.): Extraordinary Vegetable Medicine. J. Herb Med., 3(1): 9-38.Vajić, B. 1964. Food, Determination of the Main Ingredients. University of Zagreb, Zagreb.Vogl, C. R. and Hartl, A. 2003. Production and Processing of Organically Grown Fiber Nettle (Urtica Dioica L.) and Its Potential Use in the Natural Textile Industry: A Review. Am. J. Alternative Agric., 18(03):119–128.Weiss, F. 1993. Effects of Varied Nitrogen Fertilization and Cutting Treatments on the Development and Yield Components of Cultivated Stinging Nettles. Acta Hortic., 331: 137-144Yıldız, L., Başkan, K. S., Tütem, E. and Apak, R. 2008. Combined HPLC-CUPRAC (Cupric Ion Reducing Antioxidant Capacity) Assay of Parsley, Celery Leaves, and Nettle. Talanta, 77(1):304-313.