Effects of tomato-broccoli intercropping on macro element contents in tomato fruits and leaves under greenhouse conditions

Cultivation of different vegetables species that are compatible with each other at the same time and on the same land is one of the techniques that increases the total yield and income and is called intercropping. This study, in which broccoli (inter crop) was cultivated between tomato (main crop) rows and also tomato plants were grown alone as a control, was conducted during autumn (2006) and spring (2007) growing periods in a glasshouse located in Akdeniz University. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicon 'Selin' F₁) and broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica 'Chief' F₁) were used as plant materials. Having been conducted with the aim of determining the effects of intercropping, this study focused on the macro element contents of fruits and leaves of tomato plants. According to results, while the highest N (2.52%), P (0.37%), K (3.42%) and Mg (0.16%) contents in tomato fruits were obtained from tomato-broccoli intercropping system in the autumn period, the highest N content (2.27%) was found in Control in the spring period. According to results of the analysis of tomato leaves, the highest K content (2.51%) in intercropping and the highest Ca (7.76%) and Mg (0.50%) contents in control were determined in the autumn. While N (3.02%), K (1.41) and Mg (0.46%) contents were analyzed more in intercropping, P (0.38%) and Ca (8.38%) contents were evaluated in control in the spring. In conclusion, macro element contents were affected by tomato-broccoli intercropping system. Some of the macro elements were more removed from soil by main crop due to intercropping, while there were not significant differences among some elements or there were more some elements obtained from soil in control.