Nitrogen-potassium ratios to fertigate the protected tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) crop and its effect on biomass accumulation and nutrient uptake

Main Article Content

María I. Hernández

Abstract

The present study was carried out at Liliana
Dimitrova Horticultural Research Institute, with the objective
of evaluating the effect of nutrient solutions with different
nitrogen/potassium fertigation ratios for protected tomato
(HA-3019 hybrid) crop on biomass accumulation and
macronutrient uptake within two planting times. Four N/K
ratios (1:1.5; 1:2.0, 1:2.5 or production check, and 1:3.0) were
studied in spring-summer season (March/July) and winter
(September/January). Biomass accumulation (g.m-2) and N, P,
K, Ca and Mg consumption were determined per plant organ
and total biomass (g.m-2) for each treatment. In winter, dry
weight and N, K and Ca uptake were significantly higher than
in spring-summer season, whereas the top growing and
nutrient consumption period corresponded to full production
phase. The lowest leaf, stem and total biomass production
corresponded to N/K ratio 1:1.5 in spring-summer; meanwhile
dry fruit weight was significantly higher for N/K ratios 1:2.0
and 1:2.5. In winter season, significant fruit and total biomass
values were recorded for N/K ratio 1:2.5 (production check);
however, leave growth was similar in treatments 2, 3 and 4
(1:2.0, 1:2.5 and 1:3.0). Macronutrient extraction showed a similar
behaviour to that obtained for biomass accumulation.

Article Details

How to Cite
Hernández, M. I. (2013). Nitrogen-potassium ratios to fertigate the protected tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) crop and its effect on biomass accumulation and nutrient uptake. Cultivos Tropicales, 30(4), 71–78. Retrieved from https://ediciones.inca.edu.cu/index.php/ediciones/article/view/777
Section
Original Article