SUITABILITY OF VARIOUS SOILLESS MEDIA FOR LONG-TERM GREENHOUSE TOMATO GROWING

This study was conducted to compare the following 10 soilless media; (1)perlite, (2)1:1 perlite-sand, (3)1:1 peat-sand, (4)sand, (5) lava rock (Kula), (6)3:1 sawdust (fine)-perlite, (7)3:1 sawdust (coarse)-perlite, (8) decomposed Pinus brutia bark, (9)1:1 ground Pinus brutia bark-perlite and (10)1:1 ground Pinus nigra bark-perlite in greenhouse tomato (cv.Carpy) production. For comparison, plants were also grown conventionally in soil within the same greenhouse.

The first harvest was made on 2 February from the plants in soilless media and 9 February in soil. The highest yields were obtained from the plants grown in peat-sand, lava rock, perlite and perlite-sand, respectively. The increase in cumulative yield relative to soil was highest in perlite-sand (165.2 %) in February and in peat-sand in March, April and May (76.5, 25.4, 13.8 %).

Growing media had no significant effect on fruit quality characteristics, excluding fruit size. Although total soluble solids and titratable acidity were lower in fruits of the plants in soil, they had similar quality characteristics as the fruits harvested from the plants in various media.