THE INFLUENCE OF GROWING MEDIA ON GROWTH, YIELD AND QUALITY OF TOMATO GROWN UNDER GREENHOUSE CONDITIONS

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv Kyndia F1) plants were grown under greenhouse conditions to determine the effects of growing media on growth, yield and quality. Plants were grown in the bag culture system. For every plant 15 1 growing medium have been used and the plants have been planted 40 cm apart in rows 70 cm apart. Soil, perlite, peat, sand, pumice and different combinations of them were used as growing media. Plants were grown on full strength solution including all macro and micro nutrient elements Irrigations and fertilization were carried out in accordance with the physiological stages of plants and seasons. Marketable and total yields, fruit weight, ascorbic acid values, total soluble solids, amount of titratable acid and pH of fruit juice were determined. The highest marketable (2.17 kg/plant) and total (2.87 kg /plant) yield occurred with the mixture of 80 % pumice + 10 % perlite + 10 % peat medium, providing about 30 % more product in comparison to the 100 % soil. On the other hand the highest ascorbic acid value (13.3 mg/100 ml) was obtained from 100 % perlite substrate. The highest total soluble solids value (5.16 %) was obtained with the determined 100 % peat substrate whereas, the lowest (4.5 %) was obtained with the mixture of 50 % pumice + 50 % sand. The highest (0.906g/100 ml) and the lowest (0.693 g/100 ml) acid values were found in 100 % sand, and 50 % perlite + 50 % pumice mixture, respectively.