Quality evaluation of selected vegetables under rain shelter and open field cultivation

Abstract

The study on “Quality evaluation of selected vegetables under rain shelter and open field cultivation” was aimed at assessing the duration of maturity, nutritional composition, anti nutritional factors and acceptability of the two varieties of amaranth, capsicum and tomato cultivated under rain shelter and open field in rainy season in the Department of Olericulture, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara. The vegetables are analysed for moisture, fibre, protein, starch, calcium, iron, phosphorous, potassium, sodium, vitamin C, b carotene and lycopene (tomato only). The results revealed that among the different constituents present in amaranth the mean content of moisture, protein, phosphorous and sodium were high in ‘Arun’ grown under rain shelter. The mean fibre, starch, calcium, iron, potassium and vitamin C contents were highest in the variety ‘Mohini’ under rain shelter. The b carotene content of amaranth was highest in the variety ‘Mohini’ under open field condition. Regarding the nutrient constituents of capsicum the mean content of moisture, starch, calcium, phosphorous and vitamin C were highest in the variety ‘Pusa Deepthi’ growing under rain shelter where as the mean content of fibre, protein, iron, potassium and sodium were highest in the variety ‘California Wonder’ cultivated under same condition. The b carotene content was high in ‘California Wonder’ cultivated under open field condition. In tomato the mean content of protein, starch, calcium, iron, phosphorous, vitamin C, b carotene and lycopene were highest in the variety ‘Anagha’ cultivated under rain shelter where as mean content of moisture, fibre, sodium and potassium were highest in the variety ‘Shakthi’ cultivated under the same condition. The anti nutritional factors namely oxalates and nitrates present in amaranth cultivated under rain shelter and open field conditions were also analysed. The results revealed that the oxalate and nitrate content of amaranth showed no significant variation between rain shelter and open field crops in both the varieties. Results of organoleptic evaluation of vegetables indicated that significant variation in acceptability between the vegetables cultivated under rain shelter and open field condition. The vegetables cultivated under rain shelter were found to be more acceptable.