Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-lnqnp Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T09:55:20.499Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The phenology, yield and tuber composition of ‘early’ crop potatoes: A comparison between organic and conventional cultivation systems

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2012

Sara Lombardo ,
Antonino Lo Monaco ,
Gaetano Pandino ,
Bruno Parisi  and
Giovanni Mauromicale
Sara Lombardo
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Scienze delle Produzioni Agrarie e Alimentari, Università degli Studi di Catania, via Valdisavoia 5, 95123 Catania, Italy.
Antonino Lo Monaco
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Scienze delle Produzioni Agrarie e Alimentari, Università degli Studi di Catania, via Valdisavoia 5, 95123 Catania, Italy.
Gaetano Pandino
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Scienze delle Produzioni Agrarie e Alimentari, Università degli Studi di Catania, via Valdisavoia 5, 95123 Catania, Italy.
Bruno Parisi
Affiliation:
Centro di Ricerca per le Colture Industriali—Consiglio per la Ricerca e la sperimentazione in Agricoltura, Via di Corticella 133, 40129 Bologna, Italy.
Giovanni Mauromicale*
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Scienze delle Produzioni Agrarie e Alimentari, Università degli Studi di Catania, via Valdisavoia 5, 95123 Catania, Italy.
*
*Corresponding author: g.mauromicale@unict.it
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Potato production in several Mediterranean countries is focused on the ‘early’ crop type, and is generally associated with intensive applications of farming inputs. Here we report, for the first time, a comparison of crop performance between organic and conventional cultivation systems. Three cultivars were tested over two seasons (2007 and 2008) to record their phenology, yield and tuber chemical composition. The organic cultivation system was less productive than the conventional one across both years with respect to total yield, but in the season (2008) when late blight infection was not severe the difference was narrowed from 7% (Ditta) to 20% (MN 2-1577 S1). The Italian breeding clones (MN 1404 O5 and MN 2-1577 S1) deserve specific consideration due to their higher total yield and nutritional value (in terms of total protein and vitamin C content) under organic cultivation system than the cultivar Ditta. In addition, the organic farming produced tubers with a lower nitrate content, an important benefit in the context of human health. In conclusion, our results indicate that organic cultivation of ‘early’ potatoes can deliver acceptable agronomic and qualitative performances. However, the response of the ‘early’ crop potato to organic farming depends upon both seasonal conditions and cultivar choice. In particular, the selection of appropriate cultivars is one of the key aspects to optimize this environmentally friendly production system.

Keywords

‘early’ crop potatocultivation systemorganicconventionalcultivarseason
Type
Research Papers
Information
Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems , Volume 28 , Issue 1 , March 2013 , pp. 50 - 58
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1Yiridoe, E.K., Bonti-Ankomah, S., and Martin, R.C. 2005. Comparison of consumer perceptions and preference toward organic versus conventionally produced foods: A review and update of the literature. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 20:193–205.Google Scholar
2Heaton, S. 2001. Organic Farming, Food Quality and Human Health: A Review of the Evidence. Soil Association Publication, Bristol, UK.Google Scholar
3Bourn, D. and Prescott, J. 2002. A comparison of the nutritional value, sensory qualities, and food safety of organically and conventionally produced foods. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition 42:1–34.Google Scholar
4Magkos, F., Arvaniti, F., and Zampelas, A. 2006. Organic food: Buying safety or just peace of mind? A critical review of the literature. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition 46:23–56.Google Scholar
5Woese, K., Lange, D., Boess, C., and Bögl, K.W. 1997. A comparison of organically and conventionally grown foods – result of a review of the relevant literature. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 74:281–293.Google Scholar
6Dangour, A.D., Dodhia, S.K., Hayter, A., Allen, E., Lock, K., and Uauy, R. 2009. Nutritional quality of organic foods: A systematic review. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 90:680–685.Google Scholar
7Willer, H. and Kilcher, L. 2011. The World of Organic Agriculture. Statistics and Emerging Trends 2011. International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement (IFOAM) Publication, Bonn, and Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), Frick.Google Scholar
8Fiorillo, A., Rouphael, Y., Cardarelli, M., Saccardo, F., Colla, G., and Cirica, B. 2005. Yield and disease tolerance of potato cultivars grown under conventional and organic cultural management practices. Acta Horticulturae 684:79–83.Google Scholar
9Maggio, A., Carillo, P., Bulmetti, G.S., Fuggi, A., Barbieri, G., and De Pascale, S. 2008. Potato yield and metabolic profiling under conventional and organic farming. European Journal of Agronomy 28:343–350.Google Scholar
10Warman, P.R. and Havard, K.A. 1998. Yield, vitamin and mineral contents of organically and conventionally grown potatoes and sweet corn. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 68:207–216.Google Scholar
11Bacchi, M.A., De Nadai Fernandes, E.A., Tsai, S.M., and Santos, L.G.C. 2004. Conventional and organic potatoes: Assessment of elemental composition using k 0-INAA. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry 259:421–424.Google Scholar
12Mourão, I., Brito, L.M., and Coutinho, J. 2008. Yield and quality of organic versus conventional potato crop. In Neuhoff, D., Halberg, N., Alföldi, T., Lockeretz, W., Thommen, A., Rasmussen, I.A., Hermansen, J., Vaarst, M., Lueck, L., Caporali, F., Jensen, H.H., Migliorini, P. and Willer, H. (eds). Cultivating the Future Based on Science. Proceedings of the 2nd Scientific Conference of the International Society of Organic Agriculture Research (ISOFAR). Artestampa, Modena, Italy. p. 596–599.Google Scholar
13FAO. 2009. FAOSTAT Database. Available at Web site http://faostat.fao.org/ (accessed January 31, 2011).Google Scholar
14Mauromicale, G. and Ierna, A. 1999. Patata primaticcia. In Bianco, V.V., La Malfa, G. and Tudisca, S. (eds). Fisionomia e profili di qualità dell'orticoltura meridionale. Arti Grafiche Siciliane, Palermo, Italia. p. 275–296.Google Scholar
15Navarro Pedreño, J., Moral, R., Gómez, I., and Mataixm, J. 1996. Reducing nitrogen losses by decreasing mineral fertilisation in horticultural crops of eastern Spain.Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 59:217–221.Google Scholar
16Parisi, B., Govoni, F., Mainolfi, A., Baschieri, T., and Ranalli, P. 2002. Nuovi cloni italiani per la pataticoltura nazionale. L'Informatore Agrario 46:41–45.Google Scholar
17Moschella, A., Camin, F., Miselli, F., Parisi, B., Versini, G., Ranalli, P., and Bagnaresi, P. 2005. Markers of characterization of agricultural regime and geographical origin in potato. Agroindustria 4:325–332.Google Scholar
18Pither, R. and Hall, M.N. 1990. Analytical survey of the nutritional composition of organically grown fruit and vegetables. In Technical Memorandum No. 597, MAFF Project No. 4350. The Campden Food and Drink Research Association, Gloucestershire, UK. p. 31.Google Scholar
19Wacholder, K. and Nehring, K. 1940. Über den Einfluß von Düngung und Boden auf den Vitamin C-Gehalt verschiedener Kartoffelsorten. 2. Mitt. Bodenk Pflanzenemaehr 16:245–260.Google Scholar
20Asami, D.K., Hong, Y.J., Barret, D.M., and Mitchell, A.E. 2003. Comparison of the total phenolic and ascorbic acid content of freeze-dried and air-dried marionberry, strawberry, and corn grown using conventional, organic, and sustainable agricultural practices. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 51:1237–1241.Google Scholar
21Lairon, D. 2009. Nutritional quality and safety of organic food. A review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development 30:33–41.Google Scholar
22Santamaria, P. 2006. Nitrate in vegetable: Toxicity, content, intake and EC regulation. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 86:10–17.Google Scholar
23Lombardo, S., Mauromicale, G., Tedone, L., Marzi, V., Palchetti, E., and Manzelli, M. 2008. Physical, product and sensory properties of potato tubers (Solanum tuberosum L.) as affected by cultivation site and genotype. In Chiru, S., Olteanu, G., Aldea, C. and Bădărău, C. (eds). Proceedings of the XVIIth Triennal Conference of the EAPR, Potato for a changing world. Transilvania University of Braşov Publishing House, Braşov, Romania. p. 436–439.Google Scholar
24USDA Soil Taxonomy 1975. A Basic System of Soil Classification for Making and Interpreting Soil Surveys. Agricultural Handbook. Soil Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC, p. 754.Google Scholar
25Cruickshank, G., Stewart, H.E., and Wastie, R.L. 1982. An illustrated assessment key for foliage blight of potatoes. Potato Research 25:213–214.Google Scholar
26AOAC. 1990. Official Methods of Analysis of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists. 15th edn.Association of Official Analytical Chemists, Arlington, VA. p. 1058–1059.Google Scholar
27Bradford, M.M. 1976. A rapid and sensitive method for the quantification of microgram quantities of protein utilizing the principle of protein-dye binding. Analytical Biochemistry 72:248–254.Google Scholar
28Snyder, J.C. and Desborough, S.L. 1978. Rapid estimation of potato tuber total protein content with Coomassie brilliant blue g-250. Theoretical and Applied Genetics 52:135–139.Google Scholar
29Wilhelm, W.W., Arnold, S.L., and Schepers, J.S. 2000. Using a nitrate specific ion electrode to determine stalk nitrate-nitrogen concentration. Agronomy Journal 92:186–189.Google Scholar
30Gomez, K.A. and Gomez, A.A. 1984. Statistical Procedures for Agricultural Research. John Wiley & Sons, New York.Google Scholar
31Herencia, J.F., Ruiz, J.C., Melero, S., Garcia Galavis, P.A., and Maqueda, C. 2008. A short-term comparison of organic vs. conventional agriculture in a silty loam soil using two organic amendments. Journal of Agricultural Science 146:677–687.Google Scholar
32Clark, M.S., Horwath, W.R., Shennan, C., Scow, K.M., Lantni, W.T., and Ferris, H. 1998. Nitrogen, weeds and water as yield-limiting factors in conventional, low-input, and organic tomato systems. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 73:257–270.Google Scholar
33Hospers-Brands, A.J.T.M., Ghorbani, R., Bremer, E., Bain, R., Litterick, A., Halder, F., Leifert, C., and Wilcockson, S.J. 2008. Effects of presprouting, planting date, plant population and configuration on late blight and yield of organic potato crops grown with different cultivars. Potato Research 51:131–150.Google Scholar
34Olanya, O.M., Starra, G.C., Honeycutt, C.W., Griffin, T.S., and Lambert, D.H. 2007. Microclimate and potential for late blight development in irrigated potato. Crop Protection 26:1412–1421.Google Scholar
35Harrison, J.G. 1995. Factors involved in the development of potato late blight disease (Phytophthora infestans). In Haverkort, A.J. and MacKerron, D.K.L. (eds). Potato Modelling and Ecology of Crops Under Conditions Limiting Growth. Kluwer, London, UK. p. 215–236.Google Scholar
36Warman, P.R. 1998. Results of the long-term vegetable crop production trials: Conventional vs. compost-amended soils. Acta Horticulturae 469:333–340.Google Scholar
37Van Marle, J.T., Van der Vuurst, R., Wilkinson, E.C., and Yuksel, D. 1997. Sensory evaluation of the texture of steam coke potatoes. Potato Research 40:79–90.Google Scholar
38Finlay, M., Dale, B., Griffiths, D.W., and Drummond, T.T. 2003. Effects of genotype, environment, and postharvest storage on the total ascorbate content of potato (Solanum tuberosum) tubers. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 51:244–248.Google Scholar
39Bender, I., Ess, M., Matt, D., Moor, U., Tõnutare, T., and Luik, A. 2009. Quality of organic and conventional carrots. Agronomy Research 7:572–577.Google Scholar
40Montagu, K.D. and Goh, K.M. 1990. Effects of forms and rates of organic and inorganic nitrogen fertilizers on the yield and some quality indices of tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Miller). New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science 18:31–37.Google Scholar
41Lee, S.K. and Kader, A.A. 2000. Preharvest and postharvest factors influencing vitamin C content of horticultural crops. Postharvest Biology and Technology 20:207–220.Google Scholar
42Toor, R.K., Savage, G.P., and Heeb, A. 2006. Influence of different types of fertilisers on the major antioxidant components of tomatoes. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis 19:20–27.Google Scholar
43Conklin, P.L. 2001. Recent advances in the role and biosynthesis of ascorbic acid in plants. Plant, Cell and Environment 24:383–394.Google Scholar
44Leo, L., Leone, A., Longo, C., Lombardi, D.A., Raimo, F., and Zacheo, G. 2008. Antioxidant compounds and antioxidant activity in ‘Early potatoes’. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 56:4154–4163.Google Scholar
45Rembiałkowska, E. 2007. Quality of plant products from organic agriculture. Review. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 87:2757–2762.Google Scholar
46Rosegrant, M.W. 1999. Alternative futures for world cereal and meat consumption. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 58:219–234.Google Scholar
47Santamaria, P., Elia, A., and Gonnella, M. 2001. Ways of reducing rocket salad nitrate content. Acta Horticulturae 548:529–537.Google Scholar