Effect of crop rotation and fertilization on quality of processing tomatoes

Abstract

Effect of crop rotation and fertilization on quality of tomato cv. New Yorker was studied in field conditions in a long term, static experiment, conducted in Skierniewice since 1922. Tomatoes in crop rotation were cultivated on same field every third year. whereas these in monoculture were continuously cultivated on same field for 9 consecutive years (1980-1988). The fertilization treatments included: l) farmyard manure in rate of 40 t per hectare, annually, 2) mineral fertilization of 150 kg N. 100 kg P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> and 200 kg K<sub>2</sub>O per hectare, 3) farmyard manure plus mineral fertilization as in treatments 1 and 2 and, 4) mineral fertilization as in treatment 2 plus microelements in form of a multimineral, commercial fertilizer (Polichelat LS 7). Crop rotation had no significant influence on the content of soluble solids, colour and weight of fruits. However, tomato fruits from plants cultivated in rotation, as compared to those from monoculture, contained more organic acids and pectins, less nitrates, had lower pH and greater firmness. The effect of fertilization was similar in rotated and non-rotated cultivation. At combined manure and mineral NPK fertilization, tomato fruits showed higher content of soluble solids, organic acids and pectins than these from the other fertilization treatments. Fruits of plants fertilized with farmyard manure only had higher content of vitamin C and lower one of nitrates, soluble solids and organic acids and also lower firmness as compared these from other fertilization in trial.