| Abstract: | Abstract Samples (208) of radish (Raphanus sativus L.) foliage and root were collected from commercial glasshouses. Simultaneously corresponding soil samples were taken. Both plant and soil samples were analysed for nitrate and bromide. The nitrate contents of foliage and root are affected by global radiation and by nitrate content of the soil. An interaction between the two factors was found; It indicated that soil nitrate content had a considerable effect in summer, but much less so in winter under poor light conditions, when the level of nitrate in the crop is high regardless of the nitrogen status of the soil. To study the effect of radiation on nitrate content of radish in summer it was found best to consider the cumulative amount of radiation during 10 days before harvest; in winter, a period of 20–30 days was more suitable. The bromide content of foliage and root (highest values being resp. 390 and 73 mg Br per kg fresh product) was correlated with the concentration of bromide in the 1:2 volume soil extract. An increase of 1 mmol NO3 per 1 soil extract lowered the Br content of fresh radish roots by 5.8 mg Br per kg. |
