THE EFFECT OF CARBON DIOXIDE ON GROWTH OF YOUNG TOMATO, CUCUMBER AND SWEET PEPPER PLANTS

From January till June 1983, 5 – 6 sowings of young tomato, cucumber and sweet pepper plants were grown at 225, 744, 1485 and 2700 ppm CO₂. Average night temperature was 21° C and day temperature depended on solar radiation.
Ventilators were never opened.

For tomato and cucumber the decrease in growing period has been calculated for the first and second half of the propagation period.
Reductions in growing period till 0.5 g fresh weight for tomato were 10, 10, 11 % at 744, 1485 and 2700 ppm CO₂ compared to 225 ppm.
For the growing period from 0.5 till 20 g the reductions were 4, 6 and 6%. For cucumber the reductions till 1 g fresh weight were 15, 21 and 21 % and from 1 g till 20 g 8, 9 and 8 %. The smaller effects in the second period may have resulted from plant adaptation through production of thicker leaves.

For tomato the growing period till 20 g fresh weight during January – March decreased 4, 5 and 7 %, cucumber 7, 10 and 10 % and sweet pepper 6, 7 and 8 %. For April – May these percentages for tomato are 9, 10 and 9 %, cucumber, 13, 16 and 15 % and sweet pepper 10, 15 and 12 %.

Leaf damage caused by pure CO₂ occured in April and May at both highest concentrations, but nevertheless the carbon dioxide effects of all concentrations on growth were more pronounced at the higher light and temperature conditions in April and May.

Symposium on CO2 Enrichment

D. Klapwijk, C.F.M. Wubben

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1984.162.28