Chemometric strategies for nondestructive and rapid assessment of nitrate content in harvested spinach using Vis-NIR spectroscopy.

The overuse of nitrogenous fertilizers leads to an increase in the nitrate content of green leafy vegetables. Consumption of food with excess nitrate is not advisable because it results in human ailment. In this study, spinach leaves were harvested from plants grown under nine varying (0 to 400 kg/ha) nitrogenous fertilizer doses.