Vol. 87 No: 1

Title:
Influence of potassium fertilisation on the levels of phenolic compounds in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) leaves

Authors:
IVANA RADOJČIĆ REDOVNIKOVIĆ, MARA BOGOVIĆ, DUBRAVKO BELKO, KARMELA DELONGA, SANJA FABEK, BRUNO NOVAK and NINA TOTH

pp: 47-51

Abstract:
The nutritional value of sweet potato leaves (Ipomoea batatas L.) has recently been emphasised as their anti-oxidant and phenolic compounds can improve human health and provide nutritional benefits. This has increased the interest of the food industry and of consumers in using sweet potato greens as a functional food. To increase the level of phenolic compounds in sweet potato leaves, we studied the influence of potassium (K)-fertilisation at different N:K ratios [namely 1:1 (control), 1:2.5, or 1:5] on the phenolics contents and corresponding anti-oxidant activities of two cultivars of sweet potato, ‘Bat1’ and ‘Boniato’. In general, enhanced K-fertilisation increased the level of phenolic compounds and the corresponding anti-oxidant activity. However, the two cultivars differed in their response to K-fertilisation. Phenolic acids were increased (by approx. 20%) in ‘Bat1’ only after the application of N:K at a ratio of 1:5, while K-fertilisation at all rates increased the flavonoid contents of both cultivars (by approx. 300%). Our results could be useful for sweet potato producers who wish to make informed decisions on which cultivar and/or mineral fertiliser regime to choose in order to produce sweet potato leaves of the desired nutritional quality.

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