Influence of harvest date on nitrate contents of three potato varieties for off-season production

The influence of potato variety and harvest date was investigated on tuber nitrate content for off-season production in three varieties: Arinda (mid-early), Spunta (mid-late) and Mondial (late). Samples of tubers were harvested at 90, 105 and 120 days after planting in winter–spring crop and at 80, 95 and 110 days after planting in summer–autumn crop. Tuber nitrate content was determined by ion selective electrode (ISE) method. Investigated varieties differed in nitrate content. In both off-season crops, the highest quantities of nitrate were contained in the late Mondial, with respect to the middle early Arinda variety and Spunta. After a delay of the harvest date, nitrate contents in the investigated tuber samples significantly decreased in winter–spring crop, whereas they increased in summer–autumn crop in the three varieties, but to the greatest extent in the case of late Mondial variety. Regardless of variety and harvest time, the content of nitrate in tubers was within the guidelines proposed by some European countries.