The content of minerals in Slovenian organic and conventional produced fruits, herbs and vegetables

Manca KNAP; Marijan NEČEMER; Peter KUMP; Klemen POTOČNIK; Rajko VIDRIH

doi:10.14720/aas.2014.103.2.11

Authors

Manca KNAP University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Deptartment of Food Science and Technology, Jamnikarjeva 101, Ljubljana, SI-1000, Slovenia
Marijan NEČEMER J. Stefan Institute, Jamova cesta 39, Ljubljana, SI-1000, Slovenia
Peter KUMP J. Stefan Institute, Jamova cesta 39, Ljubljana, SI-1000, Slovenia
Klemen POTOČNIK University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Deptartment of Food Science and Technology, Jamnikarjeva 101, Ljubljana, SI-1000, Slovenia
Rajko VIDRIH University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Deptartment of Food Science and Technology, Jamnikarjeva 101, Ljubljana, SI-1000, Slovenia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14720/aas.2014.103.2.11

Keywords:

organic agriculture, farming systems, fruits, vegetables, drug plants, spice crops, mineral content, proximate composition

Abstract

The present study aims to compare mineral composition of fruits, herbs and vegetables grown conventionally and according to organic practice. Fruits, herbs and vegetables have been identified as leading dietary source of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. These compounds are very variable in the composition and in the concentration among cultivars and species. Determination of calcium (Ca), potassium (K), phosphorus (P) sulphur (S) and chlorine (Cl) was performed with Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (EDXRF). We found that among organic crops basil, parsley, pears, peppers, rockets and celery had higher calcium contents in comparison to conventional ones. Organically produced broccoli, eggplant, parsley, rocket and celery had higher potassium contents as well as pepper, rockets, celery, beetroots and tomatoes had higher phosphorus contents. Likewise, higher sulphur content was found in organically produced parsley, rocket, celery and raspberries. Results of this study demonstrated that in general there are no rules in the content of minerals between different farming systems.

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