The Effect of Calcium:Magnesium and Potassium Ratios on Productivity Parameters and Marketable Tomato Fruits Grown in Greenhouse Nutrient culture


Abstract in English

An experiment was conducted in a greenhouse growing tomato plant in sand nutrient culture with variable ratios of Ca:Mg and potassium in the nutrient solution. The aim was to evaluate productivity parameters and marketable fruit production. The experiment consisted of four Ca:Mg ratios (4:6, 5:5, 7.5:2.5, and 10:0.5 mM/L-1), along with three K concentrations 0.5, 3, and 4.5 mM/L-1 in the nutrient solution. There were 12 treatment each has three replicates. In spite of the increase in weight and volume of fruits with increasing Ca:Mg ratios and potassium concentrations, the increase in fruit number on the plant with increasing Ca:Mg ratio to (5:5) and 6 mM K has the main effect on plant productivity and marketable fruits. In this treatment plants produced 49 fruit/plant resulted from 5 fruit punches. Most of the physiological disorder symptoms spread on fruits was blotchy shoulders, which was associated directly with low potassium concentration in the growth medium, which negatively influenced the marketable fruit production.

References used

BADR, M.A., ABOU HUSSEIN, S.D., EL-TOHAMY, W.A., GRUDA, N. Nutrient uptake and yield of tomato under various methods of fertilizer application and levels of fertigation in arid lands. Gesunde Pflanzen. 62(1), 2010, 11-19
BARBER, S.A. Soil Nutrient Bioavailability: A mechanistic approach. 2nd ed. John Wiley & Sons, New-York.1995
BERGMANN, W. Nutritional disorders of plants. Development, visual and analytical diagnosis. Gustav Fisher Verlag, Jena, Germany.1992

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