Abstract
Cherry tomato cultivation in protected environments ensures production in the off-season, reaching yields up to 100 t ha-1 with 150 days of cultivation. Fertilization with organic composts can influence the production components of cherry tomato. From this perspective, this study aimed to evaluate different doses and organic composts, based on their nitrogen contents, on the production components of cherry tomato. The experiment was conducted in the municipality of Boa Vista - RR, at the Agrotechnical School (EAgro) of the Federal University of Roraima (UFRR), Campus Murupu. Cherry tomato cultivation was performed in a protected environment (greenhouse). The experimental design was in randomized blocks with a 4 × 5 factorial arrangement referring to four types of compost (pigeon pea and rice husk; pigeon pea and sawdust; poultry manure and rice husk; and poultry manure and sawdust) and five doses (50, 125, 200, 275, and 350 kg ha-1) calculated based on the nitrogen content of the inputs, with four replications. The experiment evaluated the number of fruits per plant, the mean fruit mass, the mean fruit mass per plant and treatment, and the mean yield per hectare. There was no significant difference at 5% probability for the doses, composts, and the interaction between doses and composts for all studied variables. The mean yield was 14.31 t ha-1. The type of compost did not influence the production components of cherry tomato. Cherry tomato yield was not increased by the organic composts in the protected environment. Key words: Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme, nitrogen, organic fertilizer.
Highlights
Tomato is a significant crop for rural producers
Tomato yield in protected environments may reach up to 100 t ha-1 in 150 days of cultivation (Genuncio et al, 2010), and most commercial cherry tomato cultivars do not tolerate heat; warm and humid regions may be attacked by bacterial wilt (Marques, 2018).The mineral nutrition of tomato relates to its yield as nitrogen (N) influences its growth and production (Ferreira et al, 2010)
The compost is an organic fertilizer that assists in solving environmental problems related to agro-industrial residues, such as rice husk and sawdust, carbon-rich materials that are readily available in the Industrial District of Boa Vista, RR
Summary
Tomato is a significant crop for rural producers. Depending on the purpose (industry or fresh consumption), its cultivation can be 100% mechanized, with a market value that may vary considerably but usually ensuring a steady income to the participants of its production chain. Organic matter supplementation in tomato cultivation intensifies the levels of the nitrogen fertilizer, indispensable to reach maximum total production (Ferreira et al, 2003). The composition of organic composts demands nitrogen sources (N), favoring regional poultry farmers who use broiler manure. This material that becomes available for use in organic or agroecological agriculture has its restrictions. From this perspective, using a nitrogen-rich plant source in the compost, such as pigeon pea, could constitute an alternative to decreasing the dependence on animal sources. The cultivation approach based on ecological fertilization principles is usually well-received by small producers
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