Determination of nitrates in cucumbers
Nitrates in cucumbers are quite common. No one is surprised anymore by the presence of nitric acid salts (nitrates), especially in the early fruits, with which the markets are crowded. It is impossible to say with certainty that such cucumbers cannot grow on your site.
Determination of nitrates in cucumbers
Nitrates enter plants not only from fertilizers, but also from the soil. Without harming the fruits themselves, nitrates (already in the form of nitrites) directly harm the consumer's body.
Product selection
Each of us has come across the purchase of cucumbers in the market or in the supermarket, without thinking about whether we choose good vegetables. The first signs of naturalness of cucumbers are their shape, smell, skin color and thorns.
Perfectly shaped, firm and with a rich green skin, the fruit is just a deception for our eyes. In fact, this is the first sign that there is a huge amount of chemistry in them. On such such fruits, most likely, various spots and signs of rot will soon appear.
Real fruits are far from perfect in shape, but they smell very natural. On the skin of such fruits, the color of which should have a herbal hue, there should not be very coarse thorns.
Reducing the level of nitrates in cucumbers
The norm for the content of nitric acid salts for cucumbers on open ground is 150 mg per 1 kg. For fruits grown in greenhouse conditions, this rate is much higher - 400 mg per 1 kg.
It is almost impossible to completely avoid the use of chemicals, but it is quite possible to reduce it if you follow simple rules and tips.
- Thoroughly wash the vegetables and, preferably, peel them and remove the attachment point to the stalk, as it contains the most harmful substances.
- When growing at home, make sure that there is a sufficient amount of potassium in the soil, which prevents the accumulation of nitric acid salts in the fruits.
- Soaking the fruit in cold water for 10 minutes is also good at reducing nitrate levels, as they tend to dissolve.
Using a nitratometer
Nitrate levels can be measured
A nitrate meter (tester) is an indispensable thing in the household, although it is quite expensive. It will make it possible to determine not only the presence of nitrates in fruits, but also their amount.
This device is quite simple to operate: you need to stick it into the pulp, preferably closer to the skin, and all the indicators will be recorded and displayed on the screen. It must be remembered that 5 mg per 1 kilogram of weight is considered a safe norm for health.
Test - strips
Using this method for determining the presence of chemistry in fruits is a fairly budgetary option. The strips can be purchased at the pharmacy and tested at home. To do this, cut the cucumber into two parts and attach a strip to one of them.
The amount of chemistry will determine how blue the test strip is. The brighter the color, the greater the amount of substances.
Liquid reagent (diphenylamine)
The test method is also based on obtaining a more or less saturated blue color, which will help determine the level of chemistry in the fruit.
For this, a solution of hydrochloric acid is used, which is dripped onto the cut of the fruit and an instant result is obtained. Diphenylamine can be purchased at virtually any pharmacy and is also completely inexpensive.
Conclusion
Knowing how to determine the amount of nitrates in cucumbers, or other vegetables and fruits, is necessary for every person who cares a little about their health. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to find fruits without chemistry, especially among the early varieties. But using some tricks can help you avoid getting too much harmful substances into your body.
There are also a variety of methods for checking the presence of chemistry in fruits: from budget ones to rather expensive ones, among which everyone can find a suitable option for themselves and preserve their health.