Effect of Root Zone Aeration on the Growth of Film-Mulched Tomato in Greenhouse

Abstract

Due to film-mulched cultivation and poor irrigation practices, low oxygen stress could be often caused in root zone in greenhouse, and has negative effects on crops growth. In this study, a barrel experiment was conducted to probe the effects of root zone aeration on tomato (Lycopersicon esculentumMill) leaves, root systems and biomass accumulation, using calcium peroxide (CaO2) as oxygen release agent. The results show that i) root zone aeration has little effect on the number of leaves and leave chlorophyll content, while reduces leaf areas of per leave and per plant, ii) root zone aeration could promote the growth and development of roots through increasing the volume, absorption area, specific surface area and total length of tomato roots and iii) root zone aeration raises the biomass of tomato plants, which mainly manifests in the increase of stems and leaves, especially in leaves.