Summer-autumn cultivation of dill (Anethum graveolens)

Dill (Anethum graveolens) is an annual plant originally native to Mediterranean area. Most suitable term for dill open field cultivation ranges from April to October. Objective of study was to establish relation among quality of dill from different harvest terms, based on content of natural pigments and macro-elements. The study involved two cultivars ('Lukullus' and 'Moravan') cultivated in the field. Dry matter, nitrates, sugars, carotenoids and chlorophylls were determined by spectrophotometric method. The experiment had shown that the highest amount of total sugars was in 'Lukullus' (0.41 mg 100 g^-1). Content of total sugars, was situated on similar level in all terms of harvest (0.30-0.39 mg 100 g^-1). Content of total carotenoids was dependent on harvest term and was in range 1.78-2.82 mg 100 g^-1. Significantly higher concentration of chlorophyll a was observed in term IV. Investigation also showed the lowest amount of chlorophyll b in autumn term of cultivation (term II). The highest accumulation of nitrates was observed in 'Lukullus' in harvest term IV (258.0 mg 100 g^-1). The investigation has shown correlation among term and cultivar.