COMPREHENSIVE STATISTICAL AND OPTIMISATION ANALYSES FOR CROP NUTRITIONAL QUALITY IN LOCALLY GROWN VEGETABLES CULTIVATED BY AGRA CANAL WATER

Abstract

Irrigation is the backbone of agricultural activities. The Agra Canal, which originates from the Yamuna River, provides essential water for vegetable cultivation; however, its quality may impact the nutritional profile of the crops. This study presents a comparative analysis of the nutritional value of spinach, radish, and tomato, grown under different irrigation regimes:100% groundwater (GW), mixed water (50% GW + 50% CW), 100% CW (canal water), and canal-side conditions. Standard analytical protocols (SOP/FL-04, IS 7219; IS 1656, and IS 4684) were employed to quantify the energy, protein, carbohydrate, and fat content of the harvested vegetables. In the series of essential minerals, zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) were analysed. Spinach irrigated with 100% GW recorded the highest energy (28.7 kcal/100g) and protein (2.8 g/100g) content, while those grown with 100% CW showed notably lower energy levels (14.91). Radish and tomato samples exhibited minor variations in energy content across treatments, although radish protein content was highest with 10% GW. A mix of GW and CW generally yielded intermediate to improved nutritional outcomes, particularly for tomatoes, where the highest energy value (19.78 kcal/100g) was observed. The highest Fe content was found in canal-side-harvested vegetables, followed by 100% CW, and Zn was found in 100% CW. All the results were analysed by Q-Q plots, Pareto plots, and Box plots, which show the significance of the results. All the values fell within the FSSI parameters. The results show that the type of water source affects the nutritional quality of crops. It emphasises the need for integrated water management strategies to improve food quality and promote sustainable agriculture in the region.