Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of different organic fertilizers on yield and fruit qualities of indeterminate tomato. Influences of different organic and inorganic fertilizers on yields and fruit qualitiy of tomato were compared during 2006 and 2007 growing periods under field conditions. In 2006 growing period, organic fertilizes used were Ormin K (250 kg/ha before planting; 30 kg/ha after first flowering; 80 kg/ha after first harvest), Coplex (50 kg/ha every week from planting to last harvest), Nof (40 kg/ha every week, from planting to last harvest), composted poultry manure (CPM) (1 t/ha before planting; 0.5 ton/ha after first flowering and 0.5 ton/ha after first harvest (liquid form)) and composted cattle manure (CCM) (60 t/ha before planting; 5 ton/ha after first flowering and 5 ton/ha after first harvest (liquid form)). Based on the first year results, organic fertilizers used during 2007 growing periods were F1 (20 ton/ha CCM before planting; 1 t/ha CPM before planting; 40 kg/ha Coplex and 20 kg/ha Nof every week) and F2 (20 t/ha CCM before planting; 500 kg/ha Ormin K before planting; 30 kg/ha Coplex and 30 kg/ha Nof every week). Inorganic fertilizers used as a control were N: 450, P2O5: 350, K2O: 600, CaO:50, S: 200, and Mg:50 kg/ha. Tomato cultivars used in this study were Alida FA± in 2006 growing period and Alida FA±, YankA± FA± and Maya FA± in 2007 growing period. In 2006, the highest yields obtained from CPM, CCM, and control treatments were 128.12, 122.92 and 115.24 t/ha respectively. In 2007, marketable yield obtained from F1 fertilizer treatment was similar to the control application. Unmarketable yield was not effected from the different fertilizer treatments. There was no significant difference among the treatments. However fruit cracking rates were higher in organic fertilizer treatments than the inorganic fertilizer treatment. Finally, application of 20 to 40 t/ha composted cattle manure befor planting and addition of commercial organic fertilizers such as coplex, nof and ormin K can be used as an alternative to the chemical fertilizers in indeterminate tomato cultivation. Key words: Tomato, organic fertilizer, cattle manure, poltry manure, yield.
Highlights
The industrial revolution followed by green revolution caused increase in yield per unit area in agricultural production, but they caused increase in synthetic fertilizers and pesticides used in agriculture
The highest marketable yields were obtained from composted poultry manure (CPM) and composted cattle manure (CCM) treatments with 128.12 and 122.92 t/ha respectively
The marketable yield was significantly higher in CPM and CCM than the others (P≤ 0.05)
Summary
The industrial revolution followed by green revolution caused increase in yield per unit area in agricultural production, but they caused increase in synthetic fertilizers and pesticides used in agriculture. Intensive inorganic fertilizer usage in agriculture caused so many health problems and unrecoverable evironmental pollution. To reduce and eliminate the adverse effects of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides on human health and evironment, new agricultural practices have been developed in the so-called organic agriculture, ecological agriculture or sustainable agriculture. (Aksoy, 2001; Chowdhury, 2004). The organic fertilizers take the place of inorganic fertilizers in sustainable agriculture. The main sources of the organic fertilizers are composted livestock manures, plant residues and industrial wastes. The organic fertilizers provide the nutritional requirements of plants and suppress the plant pests populations
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