The Effect of Various Nitrogen Fertilization Regimes on the Concentration of Thirty Three Elements in Carrot (Daucus Carota L.) Storage Roots

Nitrogen fertilization can affect the uptake and accumulation of nutrients, heavy metals and trace elements in plants. The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of nitrogen application on mineral composition of carrot storage roots. In 2003-2005 field experiment with carrot ‘Kazan F₁’ cv. was conducted in Trzciana (50°06' N, 21°85' E, South-East Poland), each year on a different site within a single soil complex. The experiment was arranged in a split-plot design with four replications. The following combinations with various nitrogen fertilization regimes (presented as kg N·ha^-1) were distinguished: 1 - Control, 2 - Ca(NO₃)₂ 70, 3 - Ca(NO₃)2 70+70, 4 - (NH₄)₂SO₄ 70 and 5 - (NH₄)₂SO₄ 70+70; where 70 kg N·ha^-1 was used pre-sowing, whereas 70+70 kg N·ha^-1 was applied in two rates: pre-sowing and as top-dressing. Solid nitrogen fertilizers were added to the soil in the form of: Ca(NO₃)₂ (15.5% N) and (NH₄)₂SO₄ (21% N). In carrot storage roots as well as in soil samples collected after carrot cultivation, the content of the following elements was determined: Ag, Al, As, B, Ba, Ca, Ce, Co, Cr, Dy, Fe, Ga, In, K, La, Li, Lu, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Tm, S, Sb, Sc, Sn, Sr, Ti, Y, Yb and V. Fertilization with nitrogen had significantly influenced the accumulation of Ba, Co, Dy, In, Lu, Mg, Ni, P, Pb, S, Sb, Sc, Sn and Y in carrot roots. In particular combinations, a diverse effect of N application was observed in reference to the content of mentioned elements. Revealed differences in the soil level of tested elements did not correlate (were not reflected) with the rate of its accumulation in carrot storage roots.