The influence of nitrogen and potassium fertilisation on the content of polyphenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity of coloured potato

The effect of fertilisation rates of nitrogen: 0 (control treatment no soil fertilisation), 40, 80 and 120 kg/ha and potassium: 0 (control treatment), 120, 150 and 180 kg/ha on the content of anthocyanins, phenolic acids and antioxidant capacity in purple-blue potato cv. 'Blue Congo' was examined. Anthocyanins and phenolic acids were identified and quantified by LC-MS and UPLC-PDA. Nitrogen was more effective in increasing the anthocyanin content their quantity in tubers after nitrogen application was twice as much as that found after potassium application. Among phenolic acids, the dominant one was chlorogenic acid, the content of which significantly increased after nitrogen fertilisation at 120 kg/ha, in line with the increase in total concentration of phenolic acids and antioxidant capacity. The adjustment of nitrogen and potassium fertilisation levels during the growth of purple-blue potatoes seems to be an effective way to increase the expression of polyphenolic compounds in these cultivars. Therefore, fertilisation with N at 120 kg/ha and K at 120 and 150 kg/ha is recommended as a way to improve the content of biologically active compounds and antioxidant properties, and consequently, to enhance the nutritional value and the functionality of purple-blue potatoes. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.