Articles
Effect of humic acids on the tomato production in soilless media
Article number
1428_7
Pages
51 – 54
Language
English
Abstract
Commercial hydroponic tomato cultivation uses different substrates, including rockwool, coir, peat moss and perlite, along with different nutrient solution recipes that yield variable results depending on growing conditions such as open field, high tunnels or greenhouses.
Humic acids, natural substances that can stimulate root growth and improve plant nutrition, are important to test in combination with the nutrient solutions used in these systems.
Based on this, the objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of humic acids on tomato production in soilless media under open-field conditions.
On May 5, ‘Roma’ tomato plants were transplanted in 2.5-L plastic pots with a substrate mix of peat moss, coir, and perlite (1:1:1, v/v). During the first three weeks, plants were irrigated with a 50% diluted nutrient solution before applying humic acids (0.2 g L‑1, commercial name: Ultra HumiMax, from CityMax) in combination with a nutrient solution recommended for hydroponic vine tomato crops, with 250 mL pot‑1 were applied three times a week.
The control pots received only the nutrient solution.
The experiment included 10 plants (replicates) per treatment, arranged in a completely random design.
Tomatoes were harvested from July to September, recording the number of mature fruits per plant, as well as fruit weight, length, diameter, firmness and Brix, and the SPAD units of leaves.
No significant differences were observed between the treatment and the control in terms of fruits harvested per plant, fruit length, diameter, firmness, or leaf SPAD units.
However, plants treated with the humic acids produced fruits with higher weight (80.3 g) and Brix (4.5) compared to the control, which showed values of 67.4 g and 4.0 °Brix, respectively.
Humic acids, natural substances that can stimulate root growth and improve plant nutrition, are important to test in combination with the nutrient solutions used in these systems.
Based on this, the objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of humic acids on tomato production in soilless media under open-field conditions.
On May 5, ‘Roma’ tomato plants were transplanted in 2.5-L plastic pots with a substrate mix of peat moss, coir, and perlite (1:1:1, v/v). During the first three weeks, plants were irrigated with a 50% diluted nutrient solution before applying humic acids (0.2 g L‑1, commercial name: Ultra HumiMax, from CityMax) in combination with a nutrient solution recommended for hydroponic vine tomato crops, with 250 mL pot‑1 were applied three times a week.
The control pots received only the nutrient solution.
The experiment included 10 plants (replicates) per treatment, arranged in a completely random design.
Tomatoes were harvested from July to September, recording the number of mature fruits per plant, as well as fruit weight, length, diameter, firmness and Brix, and the SPAD units of leaves.
No significant differences were observed between the treatment and the control in terms of fruits harvested per plant, fruit length, diameter, firmness, or leaf SPAD units.
However, plants treated with the humic acids produced fruits with higher weight (80.3 g) and Brix (4.5) compared to the control, which showed values of 67.4 g and 4.0 °Brix, respectively.
Authors
M.A. Bustamante, A.J. Bustamante
Keywords
Solanum lycopersicum, biostimulants, soilless crops
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