"The 2010 RUFORUM Biennial Conference was the second in the series. The main objective of the Biennial conferences is to provide a platform for agricultural research for development stakeholders in Africa and beyond to actively exchange findings and experiences, while at the same time learning lessons towards improving performance of the agricultural sector and ultimately people’s livelihoods. The biennial conference is RUFORUM’s most comprehensive meeting for the diversity of stakeholers in agriculture. It is especially dedicated to graduate students and their supervisors, grantees in RUFORUM member universities and alumni. It is a platform for peer review, quality control, mentorship, networking and shared learning. This record contains an extended abstract accepted under the theme of agronomy".
Nutrient content of vegetable amaranth (Amaranths cruentus L.) at different harvesting stages
Abstract:
Data on the nutritional content of conventional vegetables can
be reasonably associated with a specific stage of plant
development, but information about the age of plant development
to define harvest maturity for wild or indigenous leafy vegetables
including amaranths is scanty. A field experiment was conducted
in order to assess the P, K, Ca, Na, Cu and Zn content at
different harvest stages of amaranth. Amaranths were
harvested at 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 weeks after emergence (WAE).
A significant difference (P<0.05) was observed in the time these
different mineral nutrients reached highest levels. At 3 WAE
Ca and Zn, at 4 WAE P, at 6 WAE K and at 7 WAE Na and Cu
reached their highest levels. Protein level significantly decreased
from 50.8 to 43.47% during the 8 weeks. Regardless of the
differences in reaching their highest levels which stretched from
3 to 7 WAE, it was observed that when Ca and Zn reached
their highest level at 3 WAE, other minerals despite being low
in their concentration could still meet the Daily Required
Allowance (DRA) for humans.
Les données sur le contenu nutritionnel des légumes
conventionnels peuvent être raisonnablement associées à un
stade déterminé du développement des plantes, mais
l’information sur l’âge de développement de la plante pour définir
la maturité de récolte pour les légumes à feuilles indigènes ou
sauvages, y compris l’amarante, est maigre. Une expérience
de terrain a été menée afin d’évaluer le contenu de P, K, Ca,
Na, Cu et Zn à des stades différents de récolte de l’amarante.
Les amarantes ont été récoltées à 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 et 8 semaines
après émergence (WAE). Une différence significative (P<0.05)
a été observée dans le temps, ces différents éléments minéraux
ont atteint des niveaux plus élevés. A 3 semaines après
émergence (WAE) le Ca et le Zn, à 4 semaines après
émergence (WAE) le P, à 6 semaines après émergence (WAE)
le K et à 7 semaines après émergence (WAE) le Na et le Cu
ont atteint leurs plus hauts niveaux. La teneur en protéines a diminué significativement de 50,8 à 43,47% pendant les 8
semaines. Indépendamment des différences à atteindre leurs
plus hauts niveaux qui s’étendaient de 3 à 7 semaines après
émergence (WAE), on a observé que lorsque le Ca et Zn ont
atteint leur plus haut niveau à 3 semaines après
émergence(WAE), d’autres minéraux tout en étant faible en
leur concentration pourraient encore relever l’allocation
quotidienne exigée (DRA) pour les humains.
Language:
English
Date of publication:
2010
Country:
Region Focus:
Southern Africa
University/affiliation:
Collection:
RUFORUM Conferences and Workshops
Agris Subject Categories:
Agrovoc terms:
Additional keywords:
Licence conditions:
Open Access
Access restriction:
Form:
Printed resource
Publisher:
ISSN:
E_ISSN:
Edition:
Extent:
225-227
Notes:
