Effect of using fish effluent and well water to irrigate cherry tomato cultured in different levels of organic manure

Abstract

The rational use of water in arid and semi-arid areas is crucial for resource sustainability. Integration of aquaculture with agriculture seems to be the best way to minimize costs on those areas by saving the available resources, such as water, may grant bigger returns for the producer. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the use of fish effluent and well water to irrigate cherry tomatoes, Lycopersicum esculentum, cultivated in different levels of organic fertilizer. A complete randomized block design in a 2x5 factorial arrangement with four replications was used. Two types of water (fish effluent and well water) and 5 levels of organic fertilizers were tested. Water source alone did not affect the evaluated characteristics significantly. Nonetheless, plants irrigated with fish effluent tended to present higher values of dry matter for root and aboveground parts, as well as average fruit weight. A significant interaction between source of water and levels of manure for the characteristics average weight and transversal diameter of fruits was observed.