Effect of enhanced ammonium rate on growth and fertilizer use efficiency of greenhouse tomato in an annual succession cropping system

Abstract

The absorption of inorganic N by greenhouse vegetables is significantly influenced by seasonal variations in northern China. However, little research has been conducted on the effects of enhanced NH4+–N on the growth, quality and fertilizer use efficiency of greenhouse tomato, which could provide the basis for N management in tomato plants under a continuous cropping system throughout the year. A field experiment was designed to study the responses of the photosynthetic characteristics, fruit qualities and water use efficiencies of tomatoes under a continuous cropping system under different N supplies. To summarize according to the equivalent N supply and the combined comprehensive weighing evaluation model, the quality, yield and efficiencies of tomato were closest to the ideal goals under the 30% and 20% NH4+–N in the overwintering and early spring seasons, respectively. The quantitative index provides the basis for the comprehensive management of water and fertilizer at high yields.