RESPONSES OF LOWLAND CHERRY TOMATO (Solanum Lycopersicum var. Cerasiform) PLANTED UNDER SOILLESS CULTURE SYSTEM TO THE APPLICATION OF DIFFERENT BIOCHAR SUBSTRATES AND FOLIAR FERTILIZER

Abstract

A field experiment has been conducted to evaluate the effect of different biochar substrates and foliar fertilizer derived from seaweed on the growth of lowland cherry tomato and its fruit quality attributes. The experiment was arranged as according to the randomized complete block design with two factors viz. i) different biochar substrates (Palm Kernel Shell, PKS; Sugarcane Bagasse, SB; Coconut Shell, CS; and Walit Bird Waste; WW), and ii) with (W) and without seaweed (WO) extract. The experimental treatments were i) cocopeat with SW; ii) cocopeat (C) alone (serve as control); iii) C and PKS with seaweed; iv) C and PKS without seaweed; v) C and SB with seaweed; vi) C and SB without seaweed; vii) C and WW with seaweed; viii) C and WW without seaweed; ix) C and CS with seaweed; and x) C and CS without seaweed with four replications. The parameters evaluated were such as pre- (stem diameter) and postharvest parameters (number of fruits, fresh weight, fruit colour, fruit diameter, soluble solids concentration, titratable acidity, and fruit firmness). For the results, both factors were not significantly interacted in all parameters assessed as well as its single factor. However, in general, some of the parameters with biochar and SW showed a tendency to improve growth and fruit quality. In conclusion, regardless of SW extract, all substrates can be developed into commercial growth media exclusively for cherry tomato as they had a comparable growth and postharvest quality without causing adverse effect. In addition, the best biochar substrate could not be revealed as all the substrates had similar effect with control. Meanwhile, SW extract had the potential to be commercialized as foliar biofertilizer, however, the pure solution should be more concentrated