ISHS Acta Horticulturae 807: International Symposium on Strategies Towards Sustainability of Protected Cultivation in Mild Winter Climate
THE EFFECTS OF EC MANAGEMENT OF THE NUTRIENT SOLUTION ON YIELD AND FRUIT QUALITY OF TWO GREENHOUSE TOMATO CULTIVARS |
| Authors: | A. Karimiafshar, M. Delshad |
| Keywords: | electrical conductivity, variable EC, hydroponic system, natural radiation |
| Abstract:
EC management of the nutrient solution is an important strategic tool to improve tomato fruit quality. This study was conducted to evaluate the responses of two greenhouse tomato cultivars (cluster) to nutrient solutions with different levels of electrical conductivity (EC), as well as to constant or variable EC management. Two greenhouse tomato cultivars (‘Razan’ and ‘Ergon’) were grown in perlite in a glasshouse hydroponic system in Horticulture Department of College of Agriculture & Natural Resources of University of Tehran, Karaj region of Iran. The plants were supplied with constant nutrient solutions EC of 2and 3 mS cm-1 or with alternatively nutrient solutions having EC 1.5, 2 and 3 mS cm-1 during different periods of day. Different periods of fertigation with variable EC nutrient solutions were selected according to changes in evapotranspiration due to natural radiation. Our results showed that variable EC treatment can improve total soluble solids (TSS) of tomato fruits and the amount of plant water uptake. The other factors (yield, dry matter of vegetative parts, fruit dry weight, water use efficiency) were not affected by EC of nutrient solutions. Cultivars used in this experiment showed some differences between them regarding yield and TSS of fruits. | |
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