Animal-based organic nutrition induces comparable fruit quality to that of inorganic fertigation in soilless-grown grape tomato

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe aim of the present study was to determine the effect of animal-based organic nutrition and environmental parameters on tomato fruit quality, as well as to establish relations among colour and morphological values performed by the Tomato Analyzer (TA) software application. Organic tomato fruits produced by three organic nutrient solutions, which consisted of different mixtures of several OMRI certified nitrogen fertilizers and one inorganic nutrient solution (Steiner’s solution) as the control, were evaluated for their polyphenol and carotenoid content. We used Tomato Analyzer (TA) to evaluate fruit size and shape. Moreover, we implemented a digital image analysis tool, Color Test (CT), as part of the TA software application to collect and analyse fruit colour parameters. The application of organic fertilizers positively affected the total hydrolysable and condensed polyphenols of tomato fruits compared to the control. The high air temperature (>30°C) and sub-optimal light intensity negatively affected the carotene content of tomato fruits, as well as their morphological and colour attributes. Plants fed with organic solutions containing ASA + ASB + NK2SO4 showed comparable morphology and fruit colour attributes to those of the control plants that received Steiner’s nutrient solution. The results indicated that the application of organic fertilizers positively affected the total hydrolysable and condensed polyphenols of tomato fruits compared to the control. Plants fed with the Steiner’s nutrient solution exhibited the highest carotenoid content in tomato fruits. Organically produced tomatoes through animal-based fertilizer application displayed similar fruit morphology and colour attributes compared to conventionally produced tomatoes.