OPTIMAL MINERAL NUTRITION OF TOMATO TRANSPLANTS IN THE GREENHOUSE FOR MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD

A. Liptay, S. Nicholls, P. Sikkema
Mineral nutrition of tomato seedlings in the glasshouse affected the survival and performance of transplants once they were sett outdoors in the field. Varying N feeding had a major effect on the seedlings both in the greenhouse and outdoors. Root and shoot growth in the field increased with increasing N levels from 50 to 350 mg·liter-1 fed to the seedlings in the greenhouse. Survival of the seedlings in the field was highly correlated with the structural strength of the seedling stems. Early yield increased with increasing N levels while total yields were similar at all N feedings. Optimal N feeding was between 100 to 200 mg·liter-1. Varying P from 5 to 200 mg·liter-1 had no effect on seedling performance either in the glasshouse or outdoors. However, seedling growth was affected by varying P feedings in the 0 to 5 mg·liter-1 range. Root growth in the field and early yields were reduced at levels below 2 mg·liter-1. There was no interaction between N and P in seedling response. Potassium, at low levels <100 mg·liter-1 reduced growth only slightly; at very high K levels, eg 2000 mg·liter-1, ie high electrical conductivities, growth was reduced, however burning of tissue by high salt levels was a problem. There was no difference in yields with varying K levels.

Overall a compromised balance in mineral feeding had to take a number of factors into consideration ie height control in the glasshouse, outdoor survival from wind and sandblasting effects and field growth and yield.

Liptay, A., Nicholls, S. and Sikkema, P. (1992). OPTIMAL MINERAL NUTRITION OF TOMATO TRANSPLANTS IN THE GREENHOUSE FOR MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD. Acta Hortic. 319, 489-492
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.1992.319.76
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1992.319.76

Acta Horticulturae