engleski

Tomato yield dependent on substrate type and volume

Reduction of substrate volume per plant by 1/3 (from 3.75 to 2.5 L/plant), without considerable yield decrease, would result in financial saving. Three substrates were used for planting in 2003: rockwool, coconut fibres and expanded clay. In the following year, coconut fibres were replased by perlite. pH- and EC-values of the nutrient solution were measured periodically in the main container and in the root zone. pH-values varied between 5.6 and 6.8 in the container, and between 5.9 and 7.8 in the root zone. EC-values ranged from 2.0 to 2.9 dS/m in the container, and from 2.0 to 7.9 dS/m in the root zone. Reduction of substrate volume per plant had no significant influence on yield decrease in the first trial year whereas a significantly higher yield per plant was achieved in 2004 on a larger volume of substrate (9.5% higher compared to smaller substrate volume). The highest yield in both years (13.89 and 12.75 kg/plant), significantly higher than the yield on expanded clay, was obtained on rockwool. The highest yield (1.146 kg/plant) of the first cluster was achieved in 2003 on expanded clay and was significantly different from the yield on coconut fibres. The highest yield of the second cluster (1.181 kg/plant) was obtained on coconut fibres and was significantly different from the yield on rockwool. Also, the average mass of second cluster fruits was significantly lower on rockwool than on other substrates. In 2004, fruits on the larger volume of perlite per plant were the largest (209 g) throughout the harvest period and were significantly different from fruits on a smaller volume of expanded clay.

substrate type; substrate volume; tomato

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