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Abstract
Cleome gynandra and Corchorus tridens planted in the Horticulture Research Centre (HRC) and Chiredzi Research Station (CRS) were treated with 4 NPK fertilizer rates (A: no fertilizer (HRC and CRS); B: 7.2:12.6:6.3 (HRC) and 3.6:6.3:3.15 (CRS); C: 14.4:24.3:12.6 (HRC) and 7.2:12.6:6.3 (CRS); and D: 21.6:37.8:18.9 (HRC) and 10.8:18.9:9.45 (CRS)) in a field experiment conducted in Zimbabwe during 1996-97 to document their performance under different cultural practices. After 2 harvestings, nutritional analysis and processing were performed. At Chiredzi, the yield of Corchorus (1.12 t/ha) was higher than Cleome (0.5 t/ha) in both harvests. At Chiredzi, both vegetables had increased ascorbic acid quantities during the second harvest; average iron content for Cleome and Corchorus was 0.54 and 0.46 mg/100 g fresh weight, respectively; both vegetables showed increased calcium content during the second harvest (at 8 weeks); Cleome and Corchorus samples harvested at 6 and 8 weeks lost 71 and 92% and 89 and 95% of ascorbic acid content, respectively. At HRC site, there was a decrease in ascorbic acid and Ca content at the highest fertilizer rate; average iron content was 0.63 mg/100 g fresh weight; Cleome ascorbic acid contents harvested at 6 and 8 weeks decreased by 74 and 65% and an average iron content of 0.434 mg/100 g dry weight was recorded.