ISHS Acta Horticulturae 221: Symposium on Horticultural Substrates and their Analysis
PLANT SAP ANALYSIS AS A MONITORING TECHNIQUE FOR TOMATOES IN ROCKWOOL |
| Author: | D.L. Smith |
| Abstract:
A simplified technique for the extraction and analysis of tomato petiole sap is described. Samples are not frozen before extraction, and the extract is not centrifuged. Sections of petiole are macerated in water, filtered, and analysed as a nutrient solution. The analytical data is used in conjunction with nutrient solution analysis to monitor the nutrient status of commercial glasshouse crops. The requirements and limitations of the technique were investigated in a series of experiments. The time of day of sample collection and the length of time between sample collection and extraction were both shown to affect results, but the additional variation introduced by these factors has proved to be acceptable for routine crop monitoring. It is suggested that the technique as described could form the basis of a general method for monitoring tomatoes and other glasshouse crops in rockwool and similar inert media. | |
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