Volume effect of nutritive solution on the production and nutrition of cherry tomato plants cultivated in substrate

Abstract

This research has been conducted aiming to study the effects of different volumes of nutritive solution on the production and nutrition stages of cherry tomato plants, cultivated in substrate. Five volumes of nutritive solution were evaluated (780; 960; 1,140; 1,320, and 1,500 mL.plant-1.day-1), arranged in a complete randomized design, with eight replicates, in open air. The plantlets were grown in a hydroponics system, then transplanted to black polyethylene bags, with 12 dm3 of substrate, composed of sand, worm-culture and non carbonized rice chaff with a volumetric proportion of 6:2:2, in a space of 1.0 x 0.5 m. The volume of the nutritive solution affected the number and average weight of the fruits. The highest fruit production was obtained with the application of 1,500 mL.plant-1.day-1 of nutritive solution. The composition of N, P, Ca, Mg, S, Zn, and Cu in the leaves was within the level considered as adequate for the culture, while that of K and Mn were lower and Fe was higher. The concentration of nutrients in the nutritive solution should be adjusted in accordance with the vegetable growth phases and fruit production of the tomato plant.