Yield and Free Sugar Contents of Burdock (Arctium lappa L.) depending on Nitrogen Levels

Excessive nitrogen fertilization influences crop yields and quality as well as environmental pollution. In this study, yields, nitrogen use efficiency and free sugar contents of burdock (Arctium lappa L.) were evaluated at different levels of nitrogen fertilization. Nitrogen fertilizer was applied at 5 levels (0, 50, 100, 150, 200%) based on the conventional fertilization ($N=230kg\;ha^{-1}$), and phosphate and potassium fertilizer were treated by conventional P and K fertilization ($P_2O_5-K_2O=140-210kg\;ha^{-1}$) in all plots. The root yields of burdock were the highest in N 100~150% treatment plots. Nitrogen use efficiency and nitrogen recovery decreased from over N 150% treatment. Nitrogen uptake of root was greater than that of shoot in N 50~200% treatments. Fructose contents in root were inversely proportional to the level of nitrogen fertilization. As considering nitrogen recovery and root quality, economical burdock yield was obtained in N $230kg\;ha^{-1}$.