Organic matter effect on quantity and quality of carrot roots (Daucus Carota L.) harvested at three different periods of time.

Abstract

It was evaluated the influence of various amounts of organic matter buried in the seed-bed, on initial and final number of plants, heart size, weight and size of the aerial part of carrot plants, protein, carotene content, nematode infestation, diameter and size of carrot roots harvested at 80, 100 and 120 days after seeding. The amounts of organic matter tested were 0, 4, 8 and 16 kilogramas per square meter of seed-bed. The results showed that organic matter buried in the earth of seed-bed affected positively the number of plants per plot and higher amounts produced roots of higher weight and extra type, on early and late harvest. Lower percentages of misshapen roots were obtained with higher amounts of organic matter.