Effects of genotype, soil type, year and fertilisation on sensory and morphological attributes of carrots (Daucus carota L.).

BACKGROUND

The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of variety, soil type and fertilisation, and the interactions between these factors, on yield and quality traits of carrots.

RESULTS

Optimum fertilisation levels for yield and quality of grade one roots were found to be between 80 and 160 kg ha(-1) for nitrogen and between 0 and 120 kg ha(-1) for potassium depending on soil type and precipitation. Carrots grown in peat soil had the highest score for sweetness and the lowest scores for negatively associated characteristics such as bitterness, earthy flavour, terpene flavour and firmness. Nitrate content and the amounts of splitted and forked roots were lowest on sandy soil. Variety significantly affected number of grade 1 roots, dry matter, nitrate content and most of the sensory attributes tested. Interactions between variety, soil type and nitrogen fertilisation were found for most of the tested quality characteristics.

CONCLUSIONS

The investigations showed that year and variety had the highest impact on the carrot quality attributes studied, whereas soil type and fertilisation had less influence. Peat soil and moderate fertilisation with N and K gave optimal sensory quality while sand soil gave optimal quality as regards morphological characters like splitting and forking of roots as well as nitrate content.