Abstract
In the period 2009-2011, a study was conducted in a greenhouse, using fertigation, to determine water relations and fruit yield of tomato grown in different substrates. Tomato plants were grown on rockwool slabs, 15 dm<sup>3</sup> in volume, and on slabs of the same volume made of the following straw chaff: rape straw; rape straw + peat (3:1); rape straw + pine bark (3:1); triticale straw; triticale straw + peat (3:1); triticale straw + pine bark (3:1). 2 tomato plants were grown on each slab, leaving 22 fruit clusters on each plant during the period from February to October. The obtained results showed that water potential, stomatal conductance, transpiration, water saturation deficit, and leaf free proline content in tomato grown on rockwool and on rape or triticale straw chaff substrates did not differ statistically significantly. Also, no significant differences were found in marketable tomato fruit yield and dry matter content in tomato fruits. Peat or pine bark addition to rape or triticale straw substrates had no significant effect on the change in their commercially useful traits. In the opinion of the present authors, substrates made of rape or triticale straw alone, and even more so with the addition of peat or bark, are not inferior in any way to commonly used rockwool.
Highlights
Traditional greenhouse vegetable production carried out for many years in the same place usually results in a reduction in yield of plants caused by soil salinity and its contamination with pathogens
Tomato plants were grown on rockwool slabs, 15 dm3 in volume, and on slabs of the same volume made of the following straw chaff: rape straw; rape straw + peat (3:1); rape straw + pine bark (3:1); triticale straw; triticale straw + peat (3:1); triticale straw + pine bark (3:1). 2 tomato plants were grown on each slab, leaving 22 fruit clusters on each plant during the period from February to October
The obtained results showed that water potential, stomatal conductance, transpiration, water saturation deficit, and leaf free proline content in tomato grown on rockwool and on rape or triticale straw chaff substrates did not differ statistically significantly
Summary
Traditional greenhouse vegetable production carried out for many years in the same place usually results in a reduction in yield of plants caused by soil salinity and its contamination with pathogens. Modern production technologies are based on the cultivation of plants in various substrates isolated from the parent soil. Growing media used in horticulture can be divided into organic, mineral, and synthetic substrates. In Poland vegetable growing on rockwool has been the most popular for a number of years, but peat and perlite are used for this purpose. Similar problems are associated with the use of perlite as a growing medium. As an organic substrate, does not cause this type of problems, but its resources are shrinking rapidly, the quality of peat substrate is declining and its price is rising
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