Effects of different combinations of organic fertilizers on the yield and quality of four leafy vegetables
Abstract This study investigates the effects of various combinations of organic fertilizers on the yield and quality of four common leafy vegetables: Chinese cabbage, asparagus lettuce, Shanghai green, and oilseed lettuce. The aim is to provide insights into how different organic fertilizer formulat...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-09671-y |
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| author | Huabo Liu Jianfeng Chen Libo Fu Hua Chen Yanxian Yang Wei Wang Zhiyuan Wang Ziqian Wan Mei Yin |
| author_facet | Huabo Liu Jianfeng Chen Libo Fu Hua Chen Yanxian Yang Wei Wang Zhiyuan Wang Ziqian Wan Mei Yin |
| author_sort | Huabo Liu |
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| description | Abstract This study investigates the effects of various combinations of organic fertilizers on the yield and quality of four common leafy vegetables: Chinese cabbage, asparagus lettuce, Shanghai green, and oilseed lettuce. The aim is to provide insights into how different organic fertilizer formulations can enhance vegetable production, improve nutrient content, and promote sustainable agricultural practices. Four fertilizer treatments were applied with equivalent NPK levels: (1) sheep manure-only (CK), (2) LCN (1:1 sheep manure-green manure), (3) MCN (2:1:1 sheep manure-green manure-straw), and (4) HCN (1:1 sheep manure-straw). The experiments were conducted in Kunming and Dali, Yunnan Province, China, over the 2020–2021 growing seasons. While no significant differences in yield were observed among treatments, notable species-specific variations in vegetable quality were found. The LCN treatment significantly increased vitamin C content in Chinese cabbage and asparagus lettuce, while green manure alone resulted in the highest chlorophyll content. The soluble sugar content showed significant differences among treatments within different species. Nitrate levels varied across species, with the MCN treatment reducing nitrate accumulation in Chinese cabbage and the HCN treatment reducing it in oilseed lettuce. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that LCN and MCN were the most effective treatments, with LCN optimizing quality for Chinese cabbage and asparagus lettuce, while MCN provided balanced nutrient benefits for Shanghai green and oilseed lettuce. These findings suggest that species-specific organic fertilization strategies, based on precise nutrient combinations, can optimize both productivity and nutritional quality in leafy vegetable farming. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-673b52e7365d44a39c8d36d170827a19 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-673b52e7365d44a39c8d36d170827a192025-08-20T04:01:52ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111210.1038/s41598-025-09671-yEffects of different combinations of organic fertilizers on the yield and quality of four leafy vegetablesHuabo Liu0Jianfeng Chen1Libo Fu2Hua Chen3Yanxian Yang4Wei Wang5Zhiyuan Wang6Ziqian Wan7Mei Yin8Hubei Key Laboratory of Resource Utilization and Quality Control of Characteristic Crops, College of Life Science and Technology, Hubei Engineering UniversityEnvironment Resource and Plant Protection Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural SciencesEnvironment Resource and Plant Protection Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural SciencesEnvironment Resource and Plant Protection Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural SciencesEnvironment Resource and Plant Protection Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural SciencesEnvironment Resource and Plant Protection Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural SciencesEnvironment Resource and Plant Protection Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural SciencesXi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool UniversityEnvironment Resource and Plant Protection Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural SciencesAbstract This study investigates the effects of various combinations of organic fertilizers on the yield and quality of four common leafy vegetables: Chinese cabbage, asparagus lettuce, Shanghai green, and oilseed lettuce. The aim is to provide insights into how different organic fertilizer formulations can enhance vegetable production, improve nutrient content, and promote sustainable agricultural practices. Four fertilizer treatments were applied with equivalent NPK levels: (1) sheep manure-only (CK), (2) LCN (1:1 sheep manure-green manure), (3) MCN (2:1:1 sheep manure-green manure-straw), and (4) HCN (1:1 sheep manure-straw). The experiments were conducted in Kunming and Dali, Yunnan Province, China, over the 2020–2021 growing seasons. While no significant differences in yield were observed among treatments, notable species-specific variations in vegetable quality were found. The LCN treatment significantly increased vitamin C content in Chinese cabbage and asparagus lettuce, while green manure alone resulted in the highest chlorophyll content. The soluble sugar content showed significant differences among treatments within different species. Nitrate levels varied across species, with the MCN treatment reducing nitrate accumulation in Chinese cabbage and the HCN treatment reducing it in oilseed lettuce. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that LCN and MCN were the most effective treatments, with LCN optimizing quality for Chinese cabbage and asparagus lettuce, while MCN provided balanced nutrient benefits for Shanghai green and oilseed lettuce. These findings suggest that species-specific organic fertilization strategies, based on precise nutrient combinations, can optimize both productivity and nutritional quality in leafy vegetable farming.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-09671-yOrganic fertilizer combinationsLeafy vegetableYieldNutritional components |
| spellingShingle | Huabo Liu Jianfeng Chen Libo Fu Hua Chen Yanxian Yang Wei Wang Zhiyuan Wang Ziqian Wan Mei Yin Effects of different combinations of organic fertilizers on the yield and quality of four leafy vegetables Scientific Reports Organic fertilizer combinations Leafy vegetable Yield Nutritional components |
| title | Effects of different combinations of organic fertilizers on the yield and quality of four leafy vegetables |
| title_full | Effects of different combinations of organic fertilizers on the yield and quality of four leafy vegetables |
| title_fullStr | Effects of different combinations of organic fertilizers on the yield and quality of four leafy vegetables |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of different combinations of organic fertilizers on the yield and quality of four leafy vegetables |
| title_short | Effects of different combinations of organic fertilizers on the yield and quality of four leafy vegetables |
| title_sort | effects of different combinations of organic fertilizers on the yield and quality of four leafy vegetables |
| topic | Organic fertilizer combinations Leafy vegetable Yield Nutritional components |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-09671-y |
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