Articles
Mycorrhiza improves yield and some quality properties of soilless-grown tomatoes under reduced mineral fertilization
Article number
1391_82
Pages
605 – 612
Language
English
Abstract
In traditional soilless cultivation, mineral fertilization has been used for plant nutrition.
However, in recent years, beneficial microorganisms have been incorporated into the root medium as bio-fertilizers.
Mycorrhiza was used as a beneficial microorganism to reduce mineral fertilizers in the present study.
The study focused on reducing mineral fertilizers by 20, 40 and 60% in soilless-grown tomatoes.
An arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) cocktail comprising Glomus intraradices, Glomus geosporum, Glomus deserticola and Glomus claroideum was inoculated twice during seed sowing and seedling transfer.
Coco pith was used as a growing substrate.
The effects of AMF supplementation on plant growth, yield, tomato fruit characteristics, and plant nutrition were examined in conjunction with reduced mineral fertilizers.
Applying 60% MF+AMF resulted in a 36.2% increase in yield compared to the control group (100% mineral nutrition). Tomato fruit properties, including weight, width, volume, and flesh thickness, exhibited improvement with the application of AMF. However, fruit firmness and acidity remained unchanged, while total soluble solids and electrical conductivity decreased.
Furthermore, AMF treatments led to increased vitamin C content in the fruits.
Overall, the application of AMF improved plant nutrition and enhanced plant growth, yield, and tomato fruit characteristics.
The implications of these findings are significant as they pave the way for developing sustainable and practical techniques for tomatoes in soilless culture.
However, in recent years, beneficial microorganisms have been incorporated into the root medium as bio-fertilizers.
Mycorrhiza was used as a beneficial microorganism to reduce mineral fertilizers in the present study.
The study focused on reducing mineral fertilizers by 20, 40 and 60% in soilless-grown tomatoes.
An arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) cocktail comprising Glomus intraradices, Glomus geosporum, Glomus deserticola and Glomus claroideum was inoculated twice during seed sowing and seedling transfer.
Coco pith was used as a growing substrate.
The effects of AMF supplementation on plant growth, yield, tomato fruit characteristics, and plant nutrition were examined in conjunction with reduced mineral fertilizers.
Applying 60% MF+AMF resulted in a 36.2% increase in yield compared to the control group (100% mineral nutrition). Tomato fruit properties, including weight, width, volume, and flesh thickness, exhibited improvement with the application of AMF. However, fruit firmness and acidity remained unchanged, while total soluble solids and electrical conductivity decreased.
Furthermore, AMF treatments led to increased vitamin C content in the fruits.
Overall, the application of AMF improved plant nutrition and enhanced plant growth, yield, and tomato fruit characteristics.
The implications of these findings are significant as they pave the way for developing sustainable and practical techniques for tomatoes in soilless culture.
Authors
H.Y. Dasgan, A. Bol, N.S. Gruda
Keywords
Solanum lycopersicum, biofertilizer, yield, fruit quality, plant nutrition
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