Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Influence of salinity source on production, quality and environmental impact of tomato grown in a soilless closed system

Author(s):

Angelo Signore ^1*, Pietro Santamaria ¹, Francesco Serio ²

Recieved Date: 2008-04-19, Accepted Date: 2008-09-02

Abstract:

In order to obtain high quality cherry tomato in closed soilless systems, the nutrient solutions must have a high electric conductivity (EC), so are often enriched with NaCl or their concentrations are increased by adding greater quantities of some major elements (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, etc.). The purpose of this research was to compare two different ways of increasing the initial EC of the nutrient solution for greenhouse tomato growing in a nutrient film technique (NFT). The initial EC of the nutrient solution was increased by doubling the concentrations of the macro-elements or adding NaCl, in order to maintain the EC above 3.5 dS m^-1. The studied effects were: i) production and quality of the fruits; ii) water use efficiency and element use efficiency; and iii) environmental impact of the cultivation system. Doubling the concentrations of the macro-elements (N, P and K) the total production and the discarded fruits were increased by 8 and 52%, respectively. The addition of NaCl increased by 6% the percentage of fruits with a diameter between 25 and 35 mm, class most appreciated by the consumers. The principal parameters of the organoleptic quality (total soluble solids, ascorbic acid, titratable acidity and dry matter content) were not influenced by the source of the salinity. The quantity of water used was similar in the two experimental treatments (3400 m³ ha^-1, in average). However, the addition of NaCl allowed a meaningful reduction in the quantities of nutrients utilised, with inclusive savings of 11% (for S) and 20% (for P), without any meaningful decrease in marketable yield.

Keywords:

Solanum lycopersicum L., salinity source, soilless, closed hydroponic system, environmental impact

---

Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2008
Volume: 6
Issue: 3&4
Category: Agriculture
Pages: 357-361

---

View full PDF

---

Information:

Note to users

The requested document is freely available only to subscribers/registered users with an online subscription to the Journal of Food, Agriculture & Environment. If you have set up a personal subscription to this title please enter your user name and password. All abstracts are available for free.

Article purchasing

If you like to purchase this specific document such as article, review or this journal issue, contact us. Specify the title of the article or review, issue, number, volume and date of the publication. Software and compilation, Science & Technology, all rights reserved. Your use of this website details or service is governed by terms of use. Authors are invited to check from time to time news or information.

---

Purchase this Article:   20 Purchase PDF Order Reprints for 15

---

Share this article :