Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-hc48f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T10:38:51.753Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Factors affecting the nutritional quality of crops

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 October 2009

Sharon B. Hornick
Sharon B. Hornick
Affiliation:
Soil Scientist, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Maryland 20705.
Get access

Abstract

Several factors can directly or indirectly affect the nutritional quality of crops. Among these are soil factors, such as pH, available nutrients, texture, organic matter content and soil-water relationships; weather and climatic factors, including temperature, rainfall and light intensity; the crop and cultivar; postharvest handling and storage; and fertilizer applications and cultural practices. This paper deals primarily with fertilizer and cultural management practices, and on certain environmental factors that affect the nutritional quality of field crops and of fruits and vegetables. Earlier research that has investigated the nutritional status of crops grown with either chemical fertilizers or organic fertilizers is discussed. These studies often have given contradictory results on crop yields and on crops' mineral and vitamin contents. Other factors, such as maturity at harvest, postharvest handling and storage, anti-nutritive components, and residues of chemical fertilizers and pesticides are reviewed with respect to food safety and quality, and their implications for human and animal health. Future research needs are identified so that comparable results and valid comparisons can be obtained to identify the best management practices to ensure that food is safe and nutritious for the consumer.

Keywords

vitaminsproteincrop varietyorganic fertilizerpostharvest handling
Type
Articles
Information
American Journal of Alternative Agriculture , Volume 7 , Issue 1-2: Special Issue on Soil Quality , June 1992 , pp. 63 - 68
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1992

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

1.Albrecht, W.A. 1975. The Albrecht Papers. Charles Walters, Jr. (ed). Acres U.S.A. Raytown, Missouri.Google Scholar
2.Clancy, K.L. 1986. The role of sustainable agriculture in improving the safety and quality of the food supply. Amer. J. Alternative Agric. 1:11–18.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3.Dietz, J.M., and Erdman, J.W.. 1989. Effects of thermal processing upon vitamins and proteins in foods. Nutrition Today 24(4):6–15.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4.Hansen, H. 1981. Comparison of chemical composition and taste of biodynamically and conventionally grown vegetables. Qualitas Plantarum—Plant Foods Hum. Nutr. 30:203–211.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5.Harris, R.S. 1975. Effects of agricultural practices on foods of plant origin. In Harris, R.S. and Karmas, E. (eds). Nutritional Evaluation of Food Processing. 2nd ed.AVI Publishing Co., Westport, Connecticut, pp. 33–57.Google Scholar
6.Haworth, F. 1961. The effects of organic and in-organic nitrogen fertilizers on the yield of early potatoes, spring cabbage, leeks and summer cabbage. J. Hort. Sci. 36:202–215.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7.Hornick, S.B., and Parr, J.F.. 1987. Restoring the productivity of marginal soils with organic amendments. Amer. J. Alternative Agric. 2:64–68.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8.Hornick, S.B., and Parr, J.F.. 1989. Effect of fertilizer practices on the nutritional quality of crops. In Agricultural Alternatives and Nutritional Self-Sufficiency. Proceedings of the Seventh IFOAM Conference.International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements,Tholey-Theley, Germany.Google Scholar
9.House, W.A., and Welch, R.M.. 1984. Effects of naturally occurring antinutrients on the nutritive value of cereal grains, potato tubers, and legume seeds. In Welch, R.M. and Gabelman, W.H. (eds). Crops as Sources of Nutrients for Humans. Pub. No. 48. Soil Sci. Soc. Amer., Crop Sci. Soc. Amer., and Amer. Soc. Agronomy, Madison, Wisconsin, pp. 9–35.Google Scholar
10.Kader, A.A. 1987. Influence of preharvest and postharvest environment on nutritional composition of fruits and vegetables. In Quebedeaux, B. and Bliss, F.A. (eds). Horticulture and Human Health: Contribution of Fruits and Vegetables. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey and Amer. Soc. Horticultural Sci., Alexandria, Virginia, pp. 18–32.Google Scholar
11.Kansal, B.D., Singh, B., Balaj, K.L., and Kaur, G.. 1981. Effects of different levels of nitrogen and farmyard manure on yield and quality of spinach (Spinacea oleracea L.) Qualitas Plantarum—Plant Foods Hum. Nutr. 31:163–170.Google Scholar
12.Keipert, K., Wedler, A., and Overbeck, G.. 1991. Horticultural Abstracts 61(1):11–12.Google Scholar
13.Knorr, D., and Vogtmann, H.. 1983. Quality and quantity determination of ecologically grown foods. In Knorr, D. (ed). Sustainable Food Systems. AVI Publishing Co., Westport, Connecticut pp. 352–381.Google Scholar
14.Lairon, D., Spitz, N., Termine, E., Ribaud, P., Lafant, H., and Hauton, J.. 1984. Effect of organic mineral nitrogen fertilization on yield and nutritive value of butterhead lettuce. Qualitas Plantarum—Plant Foods Hum. Nutr. 34:97–108.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
15.Lante, E. M., Gough, H.W., and Campbell, A.M.. 1958. Nutrients in beans, effects of variety, location and years on the protein and amino acid content of dried beans. J. Agric. Food Chem. 6:58–60.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
16.Linder, M.C. 1985. Food quality and its determinants from field to table: Growing food, it's storage, and preparation. In Linder, M. (ed). Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism. Elsevier, New York, N.Y. pp. 239–254.Google Scholar
17.Lockeretz, W., Shearer, G., Kohl, D.H., and Klepper, R.W.. 1984. Comparison of organic and conventional farming in the corn belt. In Organic Fanning: Current Technology and Its Role in a Sustainable Agriculture. Amer. Soc. Agronomy, Crop Sci. Soc. Amer., and Soil Sci. Soc. Amer., Madison, Wisconsin, pp. 37–48.Google Scholar
18.Lumsden, R.D., Lewis, J.A., and Millner, P.D.. 1982. Composted sludge as a soil amendment for control of soilborne plant diseases. In H.M. Kerr and L.V. Knutson (eds). Proceedings Special Symp. Research for Small Farms. Misc. Publ. No. 1422. Agric. Research Service, U.S. Dept. of Agric, pp. 275–277.Google Scholar
19.Maga, J.A. 1983. Organically grown foods. In Knorr, D. (ed). Sustainable Food Systems. AVI Publishing Co., Westport, Connecticut, pp. 305–351.Google Scholar
20.National Research Council, Board on Agriculture. 1989. Alternative Agriculture. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
21.Nilsson, T. 1979. Yield, storage ability, quality and chemical composition of carrot, cabbage and leek at conventional and organic fertilizing. Acta Horticulturae 93:209–223.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
22.Parr, J.F., and Colacicco, D.. 1987. Organic materials as alternative nutrient sources. In Helsel, Z.R. (ed). Energy in Plant Nutrition and Pest Control. Elsevier Science, New York, N.Y. pp. 81–99.Google Scholar
23.Parr, J.F., Papendick, R.I., Hornick, S.B., and Meyer, R.E.. 1992. Soil quality: Attributes and relationships to alternative and sustainable agriculture. Amer. J. Alternative Agric. 7:5–11.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
24.Peavy, W.S., and Greig, J.K.. 1972. Organic and mineral fertilizers compared by yields, quality and composition of spinach. J. Amer. Horticultural Sci. 97:718–723.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
25.Power, J.F., and Follett, R.F.. 1987. Monoculture. Scientific American 255(3):79–86.Google Scholar
26.Rendig, V.V. 1984. Soil fertility and plant nutrition effects on the nutritional quality of crops. In Welch, R.M. and Gabelman, W.H. (eds). Crops as Sources of Nutrients for Humans. Pub. No. 48. Soil Sci. Soc. Amer., Crop Sci. Soc. Amer., and Amer. Soc. Agronomy, Madison, Wisconsin, pp. 61–77.Google Scholar
27.Rodale, J.I. 1971. Pay Dirt. Rodale Press, Inc., Emmaus, Pennsylvania.Google Scholar
28.Salunkhe, O.K., and Desai, B.B.. 1988. Effects of agricultural practices, handling, processing, and storage on vegetables. In Karmas, E. and Harris, R.S. (eds). Nutritional Evaluation of Food Processing. 3rd ed.Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, N. Y. pp. 23–71.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
29.Schuphan, W. 1972. Effects of the application of inorganic and organic manures on the market quality and on the biological value of agricultural products. Qualitas Plantarum—Mater. Veg. XXI, 4:381–398.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
30.Schuphan, W. 1974. Nutritional value of crops as influenced by organic and inorganic fertilizer treatments—results of 12 years' experiments with vegetables. Qualitas Plantarum—Plant Foods Hum. Nutr. 23:333–358.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
31.Somers, G.F., and Beeson, K.C.. 1948. The influence of climate and fertilizer practices upon the vitamin and mineral content of vegetables. Adv. Food Res. 1:291–324.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
32.Svec, L.V., Thoroughgood, C.A., and Mok, H.C.S.. 1976. Chemical evaluation of vegetables grown with conventional or organic soil amendments. Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 7(2):213–228.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
33.Thonney, P.F., and Bisogni, C.A.. 1989. Residues of agricultural chemicals on fruits and vegetables: Pesticide use and regulatory issues. Nutrition Today 24(6):6–12CrossRefGoogle Scholar
34.U.S. Dept. of Agric. 1980. Report and Recommendations on Organic Farming. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.Google Scholar