Abstract

A field experiment was conducted in Shiravan, Iran, during 2005 in order to investigate the effects of organic amendments, synthetic fertilizers and compost extracts on crop health, productivity and storability of commonly used tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). Treatments included different fertilizers of cattle, sheep and poultry manures, house-hold compost and chemical fertilizers, and five aqueous extracts from cattle manure, poultry manures, green-waste and house-hold composts and water as control. The effect of fertilizer type on tomato yield and marketable yield was significant (P<0.05). Poultry and cattle manures and house-hold compost caused higher yields compared to control and chemical treatments. However, six weeks after storage marketable yield was highest in poultry manures and lowest in chemical fertilizers. The effect of aqueous extracts was not significant on either crop health or tomato yield and storability. Organic fertilizers also caused earlier maturity and earlier fruit productivity. Application of organic fertilizer showed higher yield in the first and second harvest than the third one, on the other hand, in treatments with chemical fertilizers, the percentage of diseased fruits was higher in the first harvest and also in total yield.

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