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Assessment of Yield and Nitrate Content of Wall Rocket Grown under Diffuse-Light- or Clear-Plastic Films and Subjected to Different Nitrogen Fertilization Levels and Biostimulant Application

Authors :
Ida Di Mola
Lucia Ottaiano
Eugenio Cozzolino
Christophe El-Nakhel
Massimo Rippa
Pasquale Mormile
Giandomenico Corrado
Youssef Rouphael
Mauro Mori
Source :
Horticulturae, Vol 8, Iss 2, p 138 (2022)
Publication Year :
2022
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2022.

Abstract

The quantity and quality of wall rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia L.) production are strongly influenced by the cultivation system, in particular the protected environment conditions and nitrogen fertilization. In the present research, we tested two greenhouse cover films (Film1: diffuse light; Film2: clear), to verify the effects on yield and nitrate content (a detrimental factor of quality) of rocket leaves, fertilized with optimal (N2) or sub-optimal nitrogen dose (N1), or unfertilized (N0). In addition, we combined the N fertilization with a biostimulant application, declared by the manufacturer as able to reduce nitrate content. Film1 provided a 36% yield increase over Film2 and allowed an increasing production until the V harvest, opposite to what was recorded under Film2, where the yield increased only until the III harvest. Additionally, biostimulant application boosted the yield (+40%), as well as nitrogen fertilization. Both factors had the best performance under Film1, where N1 yield was even equal to N2-Film2. The nitrate content showed a seasonal trend (lower values in spring harvests) and it was boosted by nitrogen (1096, 3696, and 4963 mg/kg fresh weight, for N0, N1, and N2, respectively) and biostimulant application (3924 vs. 2580 mg/kg fresh weight). Therefore, the use of diffuse-light film seems useful to obtain higher yield with a halved N dose as well as in combination with biostimulant application, but the latter did not confirm the capacity to contain nitrate, at least for this crop and in this cultivation system.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
23117524
Volume :
8
Issue :
2
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Horticulturae
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.56fdcdfd49094e3f8811b902c44b78cd
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8020138