Nutrition status of greenhouse tomato grown in intert media. Part I. Macroelements

Abstract

In the experiments carried out in the years 1998-1999 the effect of inert media and fertilization levels on the nutrition status of greenhouse tomato cv. ‘Maeva F1’ was investigated. Two feeding solutions were used: I, containing (in mg dm-3): N-NO3 – 189, P – 62, K – 371, Ca – 190, Mg – 49, Fe – 0.84, Mn – 1.87, B – 0.32, Zn – 2.01, Cu – 0.048, Mo – 0.048, pH 5.5, EC – 3.2 mS cm-1; and solution II with the concentration increased by 20%, and three inert media: rockwool (Grodan), polyurethane foam (Inert) and expanded clay (granulation 4–8 mm). In the index parts of the tomato (9–10 leaf from the top) the mean content of nutrients was (% in d.m.): N – 3.69, P – 0.41, K – 5.30, Ca – 7.49, Mg – 0.55. No significant effect was found for the studied media – rockwool, expanded clay and polyurethane foam – on the nutrient content in the index parts of the greenhouse tomato, except for phosphorus. Fertilization levels also did not affect significantly content of these nutrients in the index plant parts.

Keywords

• inert media
• soilless culture
• fertigation
• tomato