Effects of Plant Age and Nitrogen Fertilization on Nitrate Accumulation and Postharvest Nitrite Accumulation in Fresh Spinach1

Abstract
Leaves of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) from N fertilized and unfertilized plots were harvested at different stages of maturity, and analyzed for nitrate and nitrite at harvest and after storage at 10°C for 5, 10 or 15 days. Leaf nitrate-N increased with time in plants sidedressed with 340 kg N/ha, but decreased in unfertilized spinach. Leaves harvested at market maturity accumulated 5-fold more nitrite-N when held at 10°C for 15 days than immature leaves. N fertilization increased nitrate accumulation at harvest, and nitrite accumulation after 15 days at 10°C.

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