Effects of acid extracts of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) and carrot (Daucus carota L.)wastes from the food industry on the growth of some crops and weeds

Abstract

The effects of acid extracts of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) and carrot (Daucus carota L.) juice wastes from the food industry on the growth of five species of crops and four weeds were examined. The acid extract of the tomato juice waste promoted the shoot and root growth of tomato, Chinese cabbage, corn, and radish, but not the growth of oat seedlings. The extract did not promote the shoot growth of weeds tested, and it inhibited the root growth of the weeds that included barnyardgrass (Echinochloa oryzicola Ohwi), southern crabgrass (Digitaria ciliaris Koel.) and Japanese barnyard millet (Echinochloa utilis Ohwi). The carrot juice waste was also examined as another waste from the food industry. The effect of the acid extract of carrot juice waste showed significant promoting effects on the root growth of Chinese cabbage; however, the effects on other plants were lower than that of tomato juice waste. It also did not inhibit the growth of weeds. These results suggested that the acid extract from tomato juice waste is useful as plant-growth substances because they have a promoting effect on the shoot and root growth of crops, and an inhibitory effect on the root growth of some weeds.