ISHS Acta Horticulturae 682: V International Postharvest Symposium
VEGETABLE PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY AND POSTHARVEST QUALITY |
| Authors: | A. Chiesa, D. Frezza, S. Moccia, A. Oberti, A. Fraschina, L. Díaz |
| Keywords: | soilless system, post-harvest quality, lettuce, cherry tomato, organic fertilisers |
| Abstract:
Sustainable vegetable production systems are expected to provide quality food while meeting the various socio-economic and environmental requirements of society. With such aims, alternative technologies that rely on few or no external inputs are currently being developed. For soil fertility management in vegetable production conventional, organic and low-input technologies are readily available. Additionally, soilless systems are also proposed as means to control environmental pollution and produce quality food. However, factors operating during crop growth (i.e. the pre-harvest factors) may affect the post-harvest quality of vegetables. Here we present research conducted to study how yield and quality of major vegetables respond to different strategies for soil management and/or soilless culture, with an initial focus on cherry tomato and lettuce. Significant differences in crop growth and yields were observed for cherry tomato and lettuce grown under different production systems, but not for the overall quality indicators. Plots under long-term applications of 15 t ha-1 yr-1 of manure produced similar yields than conventional systems and had comparable soil fertility attributes. Differences in post-harvest behaviour were observed for minimally processed lettuce grown in hydroponics vs. soil culture. Such differences were observed in the evolution of ascorbic acid and mineral concentrations during storage. | |
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