Harvest timing and nitrogen fertilization alter the production of biomass and antioxidant compound in the parsley

Abstract

Parsley is a plant widely used in cooking as a condiment and it has potential for pharmaceutical use due to flavonoids production, including the apiin, which has antioxidant activity. The current study investigates the influence of N fertilization on the biomass production, soluble fractions, total flavonoids and apiin in the parsley plants at 28 and 56 days after germination (DAG). The experiment was carried out in the greenhouse under different N levels: nitrogen free (control), 10 kg N ha -1 (10 kg N ha -1 at planting, without cover application of N) and 70 kg N ha -1 (10 kg of N ha -1 at planting and 60 kg of N ha -1 in cover). The biomass production and soluble fractions was influenced by harvest timing and nitrogen fertilization. The total flavonoid levels were lower at 56 DAG under the N fertilization effect. The highest levels of apiin were detected at 28 DAG in treatments with N fertilization. Thus, the harvest time at 28 DAG and N fertilization with 10 kg ha -1 yielded the highest apiin concentration and, therefore, less production time and costs with N fertilization.