Articles
EFFECTS OF EC AND FERTIGATION STRATEGY ON WATER AND NUTRIENT UPTAKE OF TOMATO PLANTS
Article number
593_12
Pages
101 – 107
Language
English
Abstract
In this study, water and nutrient uptake from the substrate and responses of the crop to fertigation strategies were analysed.
In an experiment and simulation study, the amount and frequency of fertigation and electrical conductivity (EC) of the fertigation water were changed for a tomato crop grown on rockwool.
In a climate chamber, tomato plants were grown on rockwool while five different EC levels and two fertigation frequencies were maintained.
Effects on plant growth, water uptake, and nutrient uptake were measured.
The experimental data were compared with simulated results.
We used two simulation models: a plant growth model and a model that describes water movement and nutrient transport within the substrate, i.e. rockwool, and root uptake of water and nutrients from the substrate.
The key idea behind the simulation of uptake of water and nutrients is to consider transport (mass flow and diffusion) from the bulk substrate surrounding the roots towards the root surface.
Water uptake may also be hindered due to osmotic potential differences between substrate solution and root sap.
The results confirmed the hypothesis that at lower EC growth is reduced due to limitations in nutrient availability (transport rate towards the root) while at higher EC growth is reduced mainly due to water stress (low osmotic potential).
In an experiment and simulation study, the amount and frequency of fertigation and electrical conductivity (EC) of the fertigation water were changed for a tomato crop grown on rockwool.
In a climate chamber, tomato plants were grown on rockwool while five different EC levels and two fertigation frequencies were maintained.
Effects on plant growth, water uptake, and nutrient uptake were measured.
The experimental data were compared with simulated results.
We used two simulation models: a plant growth model and a model that describes water movement and nutrient transport within the substrate, i.e. rockwool, and root uptake of water and nutrients from the substrate.
The key idea behind the simulation of uptake of water and nutrients is to consider transport (mass flow and diffusion) from the bulk substrate surrounding the roots towards the root surface.
Water uptake may also be hindered due to osmotic potential differences between substrate solution and root sap.
The results confirmed the hypothesis that at lower EC growth is reduced due to limitations in nutrient availability (transport rate towards the root) while at higher EC growth is reduced mainly due to water stress (low osmotic potential).
Authors
M. Heinen, L.F.M. Marcelis, A. Elings, R. Figueroa
Keywords
rockwool, simulation model, root nutrient uptake, root water uptake, tomato
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