Molecules 2012, 17(7), 7843-7853; doi:10.3390/molecules17077843
Article

Nitrate, Ascorbic Acid, Mineral and Antioxidant Activities of Cosmos caudatus in Response to Organic and Mineral-Based Fertilizer Rates

Siti Aishah Hassan 1,* email, Salumiah Mijin 1 , Umi Kalsom Yusoff 2 , Phebe Ding 1  and Puteri Edaroyati Megat Wahab 1
1 Department of Crop Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang Selangor 43400, Malaysia 2 Department of Biology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang Selangor 43400, Malaysia
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 2 May 2012; in revised form: 29 May 2012 / Accepted: 18 June 2012 / Published: 28 June 2012
PDF Full-text Download PDF Full-Text [268 KB, uploaded 28 June 2012 09:06 CEST]
Abstract: The source and quantity of nutrients available to plants can affect the quality of leafy herbs. A study was conducted to compare quality of Cosmos caudatus in response to rates of organic and mineral-based fertilizers. Organic based fertilizer GOBI (8% N:8% P2O5:8% K2O) and inorganic fertilizer (15% N, 15% P2O5, 15% K2O) were evaluated based on N element rates at 0, 30, 60, 90, 120 kg h−1. Application of organic based fertilizer reduced nitrate, improved vitamin C, antioxidant activity as well as nitrogen and calcium nutrients content. Antioxidant activity and chlorophyll content were significantly higher with increased fertilizer application. Fertilization appeared to enhance vitamin C content, however for the maximum ascorbic acid content, regardless of fertilizer sources, plants did not require high amounts of fertilizer.
Keywords: fertilizer source; ascorbic acid; antioxidants; nitrate content

Article Statistics

Click here to load and display the download statistics.

Cite This Article

MDPI and ACS Style

Hassan, S.A.; Mijin, S.; Yusoff, U.K.; Ding, P.; Wahab, P.E.M. Nitrate, Ascorbic Acid, Mineral and Antioxidant Activities of Cosmos caudatus in Response to Organic and Mineral-Based Fertilizer Rates. Molecules 2012, 17, 7843-7853.

AMA Style

Hassan SA, Mijin S, Yusoff UK, Ding P, Wahab PEM. Nitrate, Ascorbic Acid, Mineral and Antioxidant Activities of Cosmos caudatus in Response to Organic and Mineral-Based Fertilizer Rates. Molecules. 2012; 17(7):7843-7853.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Hassan, Siti Aishah; Mijin, Salumiah; Yusoff, Umi Kalsom; Ding, Phebe; Wahab, Puteri Edaroyati Megat. 2012. "Nitrate, Ascorbic Acid, Mineral and Antioxidant Activities of Cosmos caudatus in Response to Organic and Mineral-Based Fertilizer Rates." Molecules 17, no. 7: 7843-7853.

Molecules EISSN 1420-3049 Published by MDPI AG, Basel, Switzerland RSS E-Mail Table of Contents Alert