Abstract
Aim: The study aim is to investigate the effect of different fertilization and harvesting time on the growth, head characters and nutrition quality on endive under sandy soil. Methodology: A field experiments were carried out during the winter seasons 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 to study the influence of different fertilization like mineral nitrogen and biofertilizer alone or in combination and time of day for harvest on growth, head character and nutritional quality of endive. Growth characters like plant height, number of leaves per plant and leaves dry matter (%) were significantly influenced by different fertilization treatments. However, plant height and number of leaves per plant characters were insignificant differences affected by time of day harvest, in both growing seasons. But the highest leaves dry matter (%) was obtained when plant harvest at midday (in the afternoon) in both growing seasons. Whereas the head weight and head diameter attributing characters were significantly influenced by different fertilization treatments. Significantly maximum head weight (g) and head diameter (cm) were recorded by 100% mineral nitrogen fertilizer followed by 75% mineral nitrogen fertilizer. Results: Also, the results reflected that the best time of harvest that gave the significant highest mean value of this characters were given by using the evening harvest, in both growing seasons. The highest nutritional quality parameters like total phenol, TSS and ascorbic acid were obtained when plant received 100% biofertilizer and afternoon harvest, in the both seasons. The data showed that there was significant effect of different fertilization treatments on total chlorophyll content. In both seasons, the highest value was obtained with 100% mineral nitrogen. The data, also indicated that there were no significant effects of all harvesting time treatment on total chlorophyll content.
INTRODUCTION
Endive (Cichorium endivia L.), an annual plant, belonging to leafy vegetables group, has become very popular in west European countries, yet it has been relatively less known in Egypt. Endive characterized a considerable nutritive value as well as, distinctive, slightly bitter taste. The plant occurs in two botanical varieties, curly leaves or smooth leaves1 .
Leafy vegetables, rich in vitamins, fiber and minerals are good for human health. Vegetable salads are popular because they contain more vitamins than cooked vegetables and salads are easy to make2,3.
