Enhancing sustainability in kohlrabi production by balancing nitrogen use without compromising inner and outer quality aspects

Sustainability of vegetable production is a declared goal for a more sustainable agriculture in the future. Nitrogen is a crucial macro- nutrient for achieving high yields and quality such as intense greenness in vegetables, particularly in leafy varieties. However, excessive nitrogen contributes t...

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Main Authors: Guanghui Wei, Xudong Zhang, Heike Hahn, Thorsten Strissel, Monika A. Wimmer, Christian Zörb
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Julius Kühn-Institut 2025-06-01
Series:Journal of Applied Botany and Food Quality
Online Access:https://ojs.openagrar.de/index.php/JABFQ/article/view/17826
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author Guanghui Wei
Xudong Zhang
Heike Hahn
Thorsten Strissel
Monika A. Wimmer
Christian Zörb
author_facet Guanghui Wei
Xudong Zhang
Heike Hahn
Thorsten Strissel
Monika A. Wimmer
Christian Zörb
author_sort Guanghui Wei
collection DOAJ
description Sustainability of vegetable production is a declared goal for a more sustainable agriculture in the future. Nitrogen is a crucial macro- nutrient for achieving high yields and quality such as intense greenness in vegetables, particularly in leafy varieties. However, excessive nitrogen contributes to greenness but can lead to groundwater pollution through nitrate leaching. This study evaluates a strategy to enhance the sustainability of kohlrabi production (Brassica oleracea) by reducing N application while improving N use efficiency. It further investigates how product quality such as glucosinolate concentration is affected under these conditions. By applying 80% and 50% of the nitrogen fertilizers which contain an urease inhibitor or an additional nitrification inhibitor, higher sustainability through the mitigation of nitrogen losses is expected. The results show that a 20% reduction in N application is feasible with minimal yield loss and no significant effects on crop vitality or leaf greenness. The type of fertilizer had little impact on yield when 80% of N was supplied. While a 20% N reduction influences glucosinolate profiles, the effect on taste and quality, remains unclear. Overall, a 20% reduction in nitrogen fertilization can be accomplished without yield loss or significant changes in outer quality, although it may slightly alter glucosinolate profiles and taste perception.
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institution OA Journals
issn 1613-9216
1439-040X
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Julius Kühn-Institut
record_format Article
series Journal of Applied Botany and Food Quality
spelling doaj-art-0dea54cb32b04a6cb6139e4e045a7c3f2025-08-20T02:10:24ZengJulius Kühn-InstitutJournal of Applied Botany and Food Quality1613-92161439-040X2025-06-019810.5073/JABFQ.2025.098.008Enhancing sustainability in kohlrabi production by balancing nitrogen use without compromising inner and outer quality aspectsGuanghui Wei0https://orcid.org/0009-0002-3427-0490Xudong Zhang1Heike Hahn2Thorsten Strissel3Monika A. Wimmer4Christian Zörb5https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0000-5138Institute of Crop Science, Quality of Plant Products, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, GermanyInstitute of Crop Science, Quality of Plant Products, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, GermanyAgricultural Application Research, SKW Stickstoffwerke Piesteritz GmbH, Borsdorf, GermanyGemüsering Stuttgart GmbH, Stuttgart, GermanyInstitute of Crop Science, Quality of Plant Products, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, GermanyInstitute of Crop Science, Quality of Plant Products, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany Sustainability of vegetable production is a declared goal for a more sustainable agriculture in the future. Nitrogen is a crucial macro- nutrient for achieving high yields and quality such as intense greenness in vegetables, particularly in leafy varieties. However, excessive nitrogen contributes to greenness but can lead to groundwater pollution through nitrate leaching. This study evaluates a strategy to enhance the sustainability of kohlrabi production (Brassica oleracea) by reducing N application while improving N use efficiency. It further investigates how product quality such as glucosinolate concentration is affected under these conditions. By applying 80% and 50% of the nitrogen fertilizers which contain an urease inhibitor or an additional nitrification inhibitor, higher sustainability through the mitigation of nitrogen losses is expected. The results show that a 20% reduction in N application is feasible with minimal yield loss and no significant effects on crop vitality or leaf greenness. The type of fertilizer had little impact on yield when 80% of N was supplied. While a 20% N reduction influences glucosinolate profiles, the effect on taste and quality, remains unclear. Overall, a 20% reduction in nitrogen fertilization can be accomplished without yield loss or significant changes in outer quality, although it may slightly alter glucosinolate profiles and taste perception. https://ojs.openagrar.de/index.php/JABFQ/article/view/17826
spellingShingle Guanghui Wei
Xudong Zhang
Heike Hahn
Thorsten Strissel
Monika A. Wimmer
Christian Zörb
Enhancing sustainability in kohlrabi production by balancing nitrogen use without compromising inner and outer quality aspects
Journal of Applied Botany and Food Quality
title Enhancing sustainability in kohlrabi production by balancing nitrogen use without compromising inner and outer quality aspects
title_full Enhancing sustainability in kohlrabi production by balancing nitrogen use without compromising inner and outer quality aspects
title_fullStr Enhancing sustainability in kohlrabi production by balancing nitrogen use without compromising inner and outer quality aspects
title_full_unstemmed Enhancing sustainability in kohlrabi production by balancing nitrogen use without compromising inner and outer quality aspects
title_short Enhancing sustainability in kohlrabi production by balancing nitrogen use without compromising inner and outer quality aspects
title_sort enhancing sustainability in kohlrabi production by balancing nitrogen use without compromising inner and outer quality aspects
url https://ojs.openagrar.de/index.php/JABFQ/article/view/17826
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