ISHS Acta Horticulturae 807: International Symposium on Strategies Towards Sustainability of Protected Cultivation in Mild Winter Climate
OPTIMIZATION OF NITROGEN CONCENTRATION IN THE FERTILIZATION SOLUTION FOR PRODUCTION OF SEEDLINGS IN CELL TRAYS |
| Author: | V. Rosca |
| Keywords: | growing media, transplants, nutrient concentration, tomato, solution, nursery |
| Abstract:
Investigations were carried out at the State Agrarian University of Moldova to optimize nitrogen content in tomato seedling growing solution used in the production of tomato seedlings in injected cellular trays. Fertilization solutions with different rate of nitrogen were studied: 50; 100; 200; 300 and 400 mg L-1. Initial media had the following content of nutrient elements: N - 50, P2O5 - 70, K2O - 120, Mg - 50, Fe - 14, Cu - 6, Mn – 1.8, Zn – 0.5, B – 0.5, Mo – 0.3 mg 1-1. The investigation showed that nitrogen level increases in the fertigation solution can effect growth and development of tomato plants at the nursery stage. High nitrogen level in the solution was shown to increase plant height and leaf area and to reduce dry matter content in shoots. Seedlings grown on high rates of nitrogen fertilization (300, 400 mg L-1) were succulent, had a weak resistance to dry weather and sun radiation, which led to a low rate of plant survival after transplanting in the open field. While high concentration of nitrogen in the fertilization solution on tomato seedlings negatively affected open field survival rates and early tomato yields, no significant effect on total yield harvested were observed. | |
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