Scientific Reports of the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine

Influence of nitrogen and phosphorus-potassium fertiliser on the yield and biochemical composition of common chicory (Cichorium intybus L.)

Bohdan Mazurenko, Liubov Honchar
Download article
Abstract

Common chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) is an important industrial crop, valuable due to its high content of inulin and functional bioactive compounds. Optimisation of mineral fertilisers remains key to maximising yields and improving biochemical composition in the face of climate change. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of nitrogen and phosphorus-potassium fertilisers on the yield and biochemical parameters of chicory. Field studies were conducted in 2021-2023 in the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine on low-humus chernozem according to a two-factor scheme that included 5 variants of nitrogen fertiliser (0-200 kg/ha) and five variants of phosphorus-potassium fertiliser (0-120 kg P2O5 and 0-200 kg K2O). The yield of root crops, total sugar content, inulin content, reducing sugars, and degree of polymerisation were determined using standardised biochemical and statistical methods (analysis of variance, Tukey’s HSD post-hoc test, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), cluster analysis). The results of the research showed that nitrogen fertiliser affected all biochemical parameters and yield, but most of all on the content of inulin (up to 75% of dry matter) and the degree of polymerisation, while phosphorus-potassium fertilisers only on the yield and degree of polymerisation. The maximum average yield in the years of research (35.4 t/ha) was achieved with the introduction of N150P90K150, while excessive application of nitrogen and phosphorus-potassium fertilisers (200 kg/ha) reduced crop productivity and yield. The total sugar and inulin content increased with nitrogen application to 150 kg/ha, after which a decrease was observed. PCA confirmed the dominant role of nitrogen in the development of both yield and biochemical parameters. Optimal nitrogen standards (100-150 kg/ha) in combination with moderate levels of phosphorus-potassium fertiliser ensured stable root crop yields and high inulin content, which is important for both industrial processing and sustainable agricultural production

Keywords

correlation, inulin, sugars, Principal Component Analysis, polymerisation

Suggested citation
Mazurenko, B., & Honchar, L. (2025). Influence of nitrogen and phosphorus-potassium fertiliser on the yield and biochemical composition of common chicory (Cichorium intybus L.). Scientific Reports of the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, 21(5),55-70. https://doi.org/10.31548/dopovidi/5.2025.55
References
  1. Akram, H., Zafar, H., & Abbasi, B. H. (2025). The chicory root (Cichorium intybus var. sativum) frontier: Pioneering biotechnological advancements. Phytochemistry Reviews. doi: 10.1007/s11101-025-10085-x.
  2. Alves, D.M.R., de Mello Prado, R., Barreto, R.F., & da Silva Carvalho, L.T. (2024). Nano-silicon and sodium mitigate damage by potassium deficiency in chicory. Scientific Reports, 14(1), article number 16841. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-67875-0.
  3. Bakhmat, M.I., Tkach, O.V., & Stepanchenko, V.M. (2021). Seed yield of root chicory depending on the method of plant arrangement. Podilian Bulletin: Agriculture, Engineering, Economics, 34, 9-18. doi: 10.37406/2706-9052-2021-1-1.
  4. Buchelt, A.C., Teixeira, G.C.M., Oliveira, K.S., Rocha, A.M.S., de Mello Prado, R., & Caione, G. (2020). Silicon contribution via nutrient solution in forage plants to mitigate nitrogen, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur deficiency. Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, 20(3), 1532-1548. doi: 10.1007/s42729-020-00245-7.
  5. Convention on Biological Diversity. (1992, June). Retrieved from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/995_030#Text.
  6. Cwalina-Ambroziak, B., Wierzbowska, J., & Bogucka, B. (2022). The effect of nitrogen fertilization on yield and macronutrient concentrations in root chicory (Cichorium intybus L. var. Sativus Bisch) and the health status of plant. Acta Scientiarum Polonorum. Hortorum Cultus, 21(5), 85-99. doi: 10.24326/asphc.2022.5.8.
  7. Ebrahimi, M., & Gholami, M. (2023). Elevated inulin content in chicory under phosphorus and iron starvation. Journal of Medicinal Plants and By-products, 12(4), 413-420. doi: 10.22034/jmpb.2023.129015.
  8. Gholami, H., Fard, F.R., Saharkhiz, M.J., & Ghani, A. (2018). Yield and physicochemical properties of inulin obtained from Iranian chicory roots under vermicompost and humic acid treatments. Industrial Crops and Products, 123, 610-616. doi: 10.1016/j.indcrop.2018.07.031.
  9. Hingsamer, M., Kulmer, V., de Roode, M., & Kernitzkyi, M. (2022). Environmental and socio-economic impacts of new plant breeding technologies: A case study of root chicory for inulin production. Frontiers in Genome Editing, 4, article number 919392. doi: 10.3389/fgeed.2022.919392.
  10. Hong, J., Xu, F., Chen, G., Huang, X., Wang, S., Du, L., & Ding, G. (2022). Evaluation of the effects of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium applications on the growth, yield, and quality of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). Agronomy, 12(10), article number 2477. doi: 10.3390/agronomy12102477.
  11. Hoque, M.M., Ajwa, H., Othman, M., Smith, R., & Cahn, M. (2010). Yield and postharvest quality of lettuce in response to nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers. HortScience, 45(10), 1539-1544. doi: 10.21273/HORTSCI.45.10.1539.
  12. Kalenska, S., Mazurenko, B., Harbar, L., Zhovtun, M., Yunyk, A., & Mokrienko, V. (2024). Seed yield limitations of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) based on plant structure analysis. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, 18, article number 101321. doi: 10.1016/j.jafr.2024.101321.
  13. Mathieu, A.S., Tinel, C., Dailly, H., Quinet, M., & Lutts, S. (2018). Impact of high temperature on sucrose translocation, sugar content and inulin yield in Cichorium intybus L. var. sativum. Plant and Soil, 432, 273-288. doi: 10.1007/s11104-018-3802-7.
  14. Moscatello, S., Battistelli, A., Mattioni, M., & Proietti, S. (2023). Yield, fructans accumulation, and nutritional quality of young chicory plants as related to genotype and nitrogen fertilization. Agronomy, 13(7), article number 1752. doi: 10.3390/agronomy13071752.
  15. Paseephol, T., Small, D., & Sherkat, F. (2007). Process optimisation for fractionating Jerusalem artichoke fructans with ethanol using response surface methodology. Food Chemistry, 104(1), 73-80. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2006.10.078.
  16. Popova, I., Vasyliv, V., Palamarchuk, I., Mushtruk, N., & Kukla, O. (2024). Assessment of ecological safety and technological characteristics of chicory based on microbiological and derivatographic studies. Human Health and Nation, 1, 20-38.
  17. Tabatabaee, S., Sanjarian, F., Lohrasebi, T., & Karimi, M. (2021). Enhanced inulin production by hairy root cultures of Cichorium intybus in response to Pi and Fe starvation. Molecular Biology Research Communications, 10(2), article number 85. doi: 10.22099/mbrc.2021.38031.1527.
  18. Tkach, O.V., Ovcharuk, O.V., Ovcharuk, V.I., & Petrychenko, Ye.A. (2023). Influence of different growing conditions of chicory on the relationship between vegetative mass formation and root crops. Podilian Bulletin: Agriculture, Engineering, Economics, 40, 72-77. doi: 10.37406/2706-9052-2023-3.11.
  19. van Arkel, J., Vergauwen, R., Sévenier, R., Hakkert, J.C., van Laere, A., Bouwmeester, H.J., Koops, A.J., & van der Meer, I.M. (2012). Sink filling, inulin metabolizing enzymes and carbohydrate status in field grown chicory (Cichorium intybus L.). Journal of Plant Physiology, 169(15), 1520-1529. doi: 10.1016/j.jplph.2012.06.005.
  20. Vandoorne, B., Mathieu, A.S., Van den Ende, W., Vergauwen, R., Périlleux, C., Javaux, M., & Lutts, S. (2012). Water stress drastically reduces root growth and inulin yield in Cichorium intybus (var. sativum) independently of photosynthesis. Journal of Experimental Botany, 63(12), 4359-4373. doi: 10.1093/jxb/ers095.
  21. Voitovyk, M., Prymak, I., Tsyuk, O., & Melnyk, V. (2023). Qualitative composition of humus and physical and chemical properties of typical chernozem depending on the fertiliser system. Plant and Soil Science, 14(1), 9-21. doi: 10.31548/plant1.2023.09.
  22. Wierzbowska, J., Cwalina-Ambroziak, B., Waskiewicz, A., & Bogucka, B. (2023). Influence of nitrogen fertilizers on the concentrations of inulin and micronutrients in Jerusalem artichoke tubers and root chicory. Journal of Elementology, 28(3). doi: 10.5601/jelem.2023.28.2.3024.
  23. Wilson, R.G., Smith, J.A., & Yonts, C.D. (2004). Chicory root yield and carbohydrate composition is influenced by cultivar selection, planting, and harvest date. Crop Science, 44(3), 748-752. doi: 10.2135/cropsci2004.7480.
  24. Zhang, H., Yang, S., Wei, X., Wang, L., Sun, X., Hou, Z., Xu, D., & Liu, W. (2023). Forecasting the favorable growth conditions and suitable regions for chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) on the Qinghai plateau under current climatic conditions. Ecological Informatics, 78, article number 102343. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoinf.2023.102343.
  25. Zhao, X., Wang, Y., & Liu, H. (2023). The phosphorus–iron nexus: Decoding the nutrients interaction in plants. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25(13), article number 6992. doi: 10.3390/ijms25136992.