Effect of Different Forms of Sulfur Fertilization on Bioactive Components and Antioxidant Activity of White Cabbage (Brassica Oleracea L.)

Abstract

Cruciferous vegetables are very popular in latitudes corresponding to central and eastern Europe. They are rich in bioactive compounds such as chlorophylls, carotenoids, and polyphenols. The type and quality of fertilization has a significant impact on their chemical composition. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of specific forms of sulfur fertilization on the chemical properties of white cabbage, and to explore the effect of storage conditions on its bioactive components and antioxidant activity. The research material was the late cultivar of white cabbage ‘Stonehead’, fertilized with a dose of 30 kg S·ha−1, administered in the form of elemental sulfur, ammonium sulfate, and potassium sulfate. Sulfur fertilization had a significant impact on the parameters selected for this study, and the form in which it was applied resulted in different effects on these individual parameters. For all parameters investigated, the effect of sulfur fertilization was detectable. Antioxidant properties, determined as both ABTS and DPPH radical-scavenging activities, were the highest in cabbage harvested from the plot treated with potassium sulfate