ISHS Acta Horticulturae 462: I Balkan Symposium On Vegetables and Potatoes
THE EFFECT OF SEEDLING QUALITY ON TOMATO YIELD, PLANT AND FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS |
| Authors: | V. Markovic, M. Djurovka, Z. Ilin |
| Keywords: | Lycopersicum esculentum, seedlings, substrate, yield, plants, fruits |
| Abstract:
The effect of various qualities of tomato seedlings on yield, plant height, and tomato fruit characteristics was studied in a greenhouse and in an experimental field. The tomato seedlings were produced in containers according to the "speedling" system and according to the conventional method using boxes. Ten substrates were studied: two types of peat, compost, a mixture of peat and compost, and a mixture of compost, peat and enriched zeolites. The best results concerning yield, plant height and fruit size were achieved with quality seedlings, i.e., with seedlings produced on a mixture of a substrate of 2/3 peat from Grahovo and 1/3 enriched zeolite. Tomato seedlings produced on the same substrate had an average height of 27,5 cm, five leaves, an above-ground mass of 5,7 g, and 9,9% dry matter. With the same seedlings we obtained average fruit yields of 47,6 t/ha, average plant height of 99,7 cm, average fruit mass of 130,6 g, and average dry matter of fruits 5,7%. The seedlings produced in containers had higher yields and more fruits with better characteristics than the seedlings produced according to the standard method. | |
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