ISHS Acta Horticulturae 98: Symposium on Research on Recirculating Water Culture
EFFECT OF ROOT ZONE WARMING, FLOW RATE AND PROPAGATION SYSTEM ON TOMATO CROP PERFORMANCE IN NFT |
| Author: | M.J. Maher |
| Abstract:
The effect of heating the nutrient solution to 25°C was studied on an early tomato crop grown in recirculating solution at 2 night air temperatures, 13°C and 5°C. Root zone warming increased shoot vigour and root size particularly at the lower night air temperature. Early yield was not affected but after 10 weeks picking there was a significant yield increase from solution heating. Plants grown at the low night air temperature with root zone warming produced early and total yields as great as plants grown at the higher temperature. The increase in total yield from solution heating was greater at the lower night air temperature. In a trial on planting stage, delaying planting until fruit on the first truss had set increased the flower number on the first truss but not on subsequent trusses. Early yield to the end of April was increased but there was no effect on yield to the end of May or June. The use of intermittent instead of continuous flow until fruit on the first truss had set did not affect flower development or fruit yield. A comparison of 4 flow rates varying from 1/3 to 9 litres per minute in 27 m long gullies showed no effect on early yield but from July onwards higher flow rate tended to increase yield. In a second year there was no effect of flow rate on yield to the end of June. | |
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