Effects of Different Manures on Quantity of Sulfur Compounds in the Garlic

Aims: Study investigates relation of sulfur compounds content in garlic and different type of manures that were used for rearing of this vegetable. Measured parameter was total sulfur which could be a valid parameter of content of aromatic and medicinal sulfur compounds in garlic (alliin etc.).
Study Design: Quality of garlic mainly depends from content of sulfur compounds, there are articles related to influence of mineral fertilizer on the quality of garlic bulbs but effect of manures hasn’t been enough investigated. This research should give an estimation of effect of some manures on the quantity of sulfur compounds in garlic.
Place and Duration of Study: Sarajevo University - Department of Chemistry, Educons University - Department for Ecological Agriculture, Laboratory of Public Enterprise „Vodno podrucje sliva rijeke Save“, between Mart 2012 - June 2013.
Methodology: Garlic plants were treated separately with: sheep, poultry, cow manures and mineral fertilizer. Total sulfur analysis of garlic bulbs was performed by the Ion Chromatography method, with the sample first being treated in a strong oxidizing media by mixture of perchloric and nitric acid. Total sulfur quantity in the manures was quantified by ICP-OES, samples previously have been treated with nitric acid.
Results: The highest level of total sulfur was found in the fresh bulb of garlic that has been treated with poultry manure - it was 30% higher than in garlic which has been cultivated with cow manure and 40% higher compared with garlic that has been cultivated with sheep manure. The total sulfur content in the manures was different: The highest was in sheep manure, followed by poultry and the lowest level was found in cow manure.
Conclusion: Application of poultry manure has resulted in best quality garlic. The most important parameter that can increase the content of sulfur compounds in garlic is the possibility of mineralizing the manure.