Volume 12, number 3
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Amaranth Nutritional Properties Assessment Based on Potassium and Nitrate Concentration in Tissues

Alexander Vasilevich Kurovsky, Аnastasiya Anatolievna Burenina, Svetlana Ivanovna Mikhaylova, Kseniya Alexandrovna Petrochenko, Tatyana Petrovna Astafurova

Tomsk State University, Russian Federation, 634050, Tomsk, Lenin Prospekt, 36.  

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.13005/bbra/1887

ABSTRACT: The chemical composition of plants of amaranth belonging to various species is determined genetically to a great extent. The concentration of mineral nutrients in amaranth tissues may influence the quality of food and fodder raw stuff. We studied the potassium and nitrate concentration in the tissues of the plants of four amaranth species grown in Western Siberia in similar rainfed conditions. We suggest using the ratio “potassium concentration/nitrate concentration” in the biomass of the plants under study as an additional indicator of their nutritional properties. The content of potassium in A. hypochondriacus and A. tricolor dry weight was about 900 mEq/kg, in the tissues of A. retroflexus – 600 mEq/kg, in the tissues of A. cruentus – 455 mEq/kg. The maximal value of the mean nitrate content in dry matter for A. cruentus was 105.9 mEq/kg. The content of nitrates in A. tricolor tissues was 80 mEq/kg, and in A. retroflexus tissues – 40 mEq/kg. The minimal content of nitrates was registered in the sample of the dry matter of the plants of A. hypochondriacus – about 24 mEq/kg. The ratio “potassium concentration/nitrate concentration” in the plants of A. hypochondriacus ran up to a multiple of 45, in A. retroflexsus – 16.4, in A. tricolor – 10.8, and in A. cruentus – 4.5. A. hypochondriacus has the highest feeding value compared to other amaranth species, with soil conditions being similar, without watering and fertilizers. The indicator “potassium/nitrate” can be used for express assessment of amaranth nutritional properties.

KEYWORDS: Amaranthus hypochondriacus L.; Amaranthus tricolor L.; Amaranthus cruentus L.; Amaranthus retroflexsus L.; potassium; nitrates in dry matter; potassium/nitrate ratio

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Kurovsky А. V, Burenina А. А, Mikhailova S. I, Petrochenko К. А, Astafurova Т. P. Amaranth Nutritional Properties Assessment Based on Potassium and Nitrate Concentration in Tissues. Biosci Biotechnol Res Asia 2015;12(3)
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Kurovsky А. V, Burenina А. А, Mikhailova S. I, Petrochenko К. А, Astafurova Т. P. Amaranth Nutritional Properties Assessment Based on Potassium and Nitrate Concentration in Tissues. Biosci Biotechnol Res Asia 2015;12(3). Available from: https://www.biotech-asia.org/?p=3570>

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