THE EFFECT OF A PEAT BASED GROWING MEDIUM, WITH VARYING FERTILISER LEVELS AND AMENDED WITH COMPOSTED GREEN WASTE (CGW), ON THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF TOMATO (LYCOPERSICON LYCOPERSICUM (L.) KARSTEN) PLANTS

The growth and development of tomato (Lycopersicon lycopersicum (L.) Karsten) seedlings grown in peat based media amended with normal (1N, proprietory fertiliser at 1.6 kg m^-3), at twice normal (2N) and four times normal (4N) rates of fertiliser, alone or with CGW at 30, 40 and 50% (v/v) was assessed.
The (4N) fertiliser rate resulted in stunted plants, with significantly reduced % dry matter, leaf area and number of leaves to the first truss, restricted spread and reduced plant height.
The addition of CGW did not mitigate the effects of the 4N fertiliser rate.
In contrast, plants grown in twice the normal rate of fertiliser (2N) plus 50% CGW recorded the best results for most of the growth parameters.
Plants in this treatment had a dark green colour, had more leaves to the first truss and had larger leaves and shorter internodes when compared with other treatments.
The potential for CGW usage in peat dilution products is discussed.

International Symposium on Growing Media and Composting

O.P.E. Doyle, C. King, R. O’Haire, T. Moore, D. NiChualain, W. Carlile

peat alternatives, waste management, compost, peat extraction, green waste, fertiliser use

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2011.891.9