Effects of organic and chemical nitrogen fertilization and postharvest treatments on the visual and nutritional quality of fresh-cut celery (Apium graveolens L.) during storage

Mesbah Babalar; Hadiseh Daneshvar; Juan Carlos Díaz-Pérez; Savithri Nambeesan; Leila Tabrizi; Mojtaba Delshad

doi:10.1002/fsn3.3063

Effects of organic and chemical nitrogen fertilization and postharvest treatments on the visual and nutritional quality of fresh-cut celery (Apium graveolens L.) during storage

Food Sci Nutr. 2022 Oct 1;11(1):320-333. doi: 10.1002/fsn3.3063. eCollection 2023 Jan.

Authors

Mesbah Babalar¹, Hadiseh Daneshvar¹, Juan Carlos Díaz-Pérez², Savithri Nambeesan³, Leila Tabrizi¹, Mojtaba Delshad¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Horticultural Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural Science and Engineering, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources University of Tehran Karaj Iran.
² Department of Horticulture College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences University of Georgia Tifton Georgia USA.
³ Department of Horticulture College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences University of Georgia Athens Georgia USA.

Abstract

The shelf life of horticultural commodities depends on pre- and postharvest factors, such as soil fertilization and postharvest handling. The current study aimed to evaluate fresh-cut celery's postharvest quality as affected by the rate and type (organic and chemical) of nitrogen (N) fertilizer and postharvest treatments. Celery ('Tall Utah') crop was grown in a field in Karaj, Iran. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with three replications and seven preharvest (fertilizer), and five postharvest treatments. Organic fertilizers were vermicompost (VER) and bio-organic fertilizer [farmyard and livestock manure plus Trichoderma harzianum (COM)]. Chemical fertilizers were urea (46% N) at high rate [322 kg·ha¹ N (UREA_HIGH)], optimal rate [196 kg·ha^-1 N (UREA_OPT)], and low rate [138 kg·ha^-1 N (UREA_LOW)]; ammonium nitrate [35% N (AN)] at 196 kg·ha^-1 N; and treatment without fertilization was used as a control. Postharvest treatments included plastic packaging (PP), hydrocooling (HC), blanching (B), and edible coating of psyllium seed mucilage (EC). After postharvest treatments, celery petioles were stored (0-2°C, 85%-90% RH) for 4 weeks and evaluated weekly for quality attributes. Organic fertilizers and UREA_LOW were the most effective treatments in reducing the changes in color, weight loss, titratable acidity (TA), pH, and total soluble solids (TSS) of fresh-cut celery. Organic fertilizers enhanced the vitamin C content, total phenols, and antioxidant activity in celeries. As postharvest treatments, hydrocooling, plastic packaging, and blanching maintained chroma and hue values. Blanching had the greatest effect on the L* value. Hydrocooling increased celery's TA, TSS, and vitamin C content and reduced weight loss and pH during storage. Thus, celery quality was improved when grown under low or adequate N fertilization. Hydrocooling was an effective postharvest treatment for preserving fresh-cut celery quality during storage.

Keywords: blanching; cold storage; edible coating; precooling; safety.