ALMOND WASTE: A NEW ECOLOGY-FRIENDLY ALTERNATIVE SUBSTRATE IN TOMATO CULTURE

The woody endocarp of almond fruits is a waste product for which no important industrial uses have been developed and previously it has been incinerated or dumped without control. In the current study, tomato plants were grown in a plastic-house under semi-arid conditions in the South-East of Spain. Different agricultural systems, coconut coir bags and almond waste bags, were tested in order to optimise the use of water and fertilizers, to minimize environmental pollution and increase the quality of fruits. The effect of both systems on yield and fertigation requirements was evaluated and discussed in terms of environmental factors. The results suggested that no important differences were present. Therefore, almond waste residues seem to be an acceptable substrate substitute for peat and rockwool in soilless crops.