ISHS Acta Horticulturae 98: Symposium on Research on Recirculating Water Culture
THE EFFECT OF AMMONIUM/NITRATE RATIO IN THE NUTRIENT SOLUTION ON TOMATO YIELD AND QUALITY |
| Authors: | A. Feigin, M. Zwibel, I. Rylski, N. Zamir, N. Levav |
| Abstract:
The effect of ammonium/nitrate ratio on the yield and quality of tomato (cv. Angela) was studied by means of a greenhouse experiment. Six different proportions of NH4-N/ (NH4 + NO3)-N in 6 meq N/1 nutrient solutions, were tested: 0, 10, 20, 30, 50 and 100%. The pH of all the treatments was kept uniform and constant (~ 6.8) by utilizing shallow one-way-flowing nutrient solutions. Plant roots were covered by a 3-cm layer of coarse volcanic rock. The highest marketable yield (4.06 kg/plant) was obtained in the 0 NH4-N treatment. No considerable decline in yield was found in the 10–30% NH4-N treatments, but significantly lower yields were measured in the 50 and 100% NH4-N treatments: 2.99 and 1.63 kg/plant, respectively, due to reduction in the number of fruits/plant and in the average weight of single fruits. The marketable yield (firm and elastic fruit, excluding the soft ones), measured after 8 days of storage at 18°C, was 1.97, 2.57, 2.34, 2.51, 2.37 and 0.97 kg/plant, for the 0, 10, 20, 30, 50 and 100% NH4-N concentrations, respectively. The ammonium/nitrate ratio in the nutrient solutions influenced the phenology and the chemical composition of the plants. | |
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