Effect of compound and single-based fertilizerson shelf life of exotic/minor vegetable crops cultivated for the fresh market

Abstract

Laboratory studies were conducted to ascertain the shelf life of fresh lettuce (var. Eden), carrot (var. Bahia), and sweet pepper (var. Yellow wonder) as influenced either by a single-based fertilizer or a compound fertilizer for optimal fertilization towards enhanced shelf life quality. This was accomplished following Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with four replications.Samples of lettuce were harvested from a 71 kg, 100 kg, and 128 kg of ammonium sulphate (20.5 % N, 23.4 % S)/ha single-based treated plots, 350 kg of NPK (15-15-15)/ha compound treated plot, and control/no fertilizer application; samples of sweet pepper were harvested from an 81 kg, 100 kg, and 138 kg of 6-24-12 NPK/ha single-based treated plots, 225 kg of NPK (15-15-15)/ha compound treated plot, and control; and samples of carrot were harvested from a 43 kg, 71 kg, and 100 kg of 10-10-30 NPK/ ha single-based treated plots, 225 kg of NPK (15-15-15)/ha compound treated plot, and control.The different rates of the single-based fertilizers and the corresponding controls resulted in long shelf life as opposed to the short shelf life obtained by the application of compound fertilizers. In all cases it was one more week.