Investigating the synergistic impact of ozonated water irrigation and organic fertilization on tomato growth

Abstract

This study presents the outcomes of an experimental investigation aimed at evaluating the combined impact of irrigating tomatoes with ozonated water and applying organic fertilization. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse equipped with an innovative ozonated water generation system. Tomato seeds were planted in 240 pots of 2-liter volume, arranged in 16 rows with 15 pots each. Alongside the native greenhouse topsoil, three distinct substrate mixtures incorporating compost compositions of 10%, 20%, and 40% were examined. Regular irrigation, twice a week, was implemented using three varying concentrations of dissolved ozone in water (1, 2, and 3 ppm). Results obtained after approximately three months of cultivation unveiled an almost twofold increase in plant productivity with ozonated water irrigation. This effect was notably pronounced when utilizing the native topsoil and a substrate containing 10% compost, coupled with an ozone concentration of 2 ppm. Intriguingly, the use of ozonated water facilitated enhanced development of both aerial and root components of the tomato plants. Moreover, the study suggests that organic fertilization may not be necessary when irrigating with ozonated water, as comparable productivity was observed for both fertilized and non-fertilized soil substrates. Although physicochemical analyses indicated minimal alterations, the noticeable improvement in plant vitality underscores the positive influence of ozone.