The Effect of Phosphate Fertilizer Starter Solution on Growth of Two Tomato(Lycopersicon Esculentum Mill)Varieties in Sandy Soil

Abstract

A field experiment is conducted during the growing season of 2012 - 2013 on a sandy loam soil at Al-Berjsia researches station / Ministry of Agriculture , Basrah province , south of Iraq . The aim of study is to determine the effect of phosphate fertilizer starter solution on the growth of Two Tomato( Lycopersicon Esculentum Mill ) varieties ( Hotuf and Speedy ) and P-uptake . Phosphate fertilizer as consternated super Phosphate (CSP)is applied at level 120 Kg P ha-1 . An equivalent of 0 , 0.05 , 0.10 and 0.20 % of Phosphor level are added as starter solution either at transplanting time or three days after transplanting . The remaining of Phosphorus level was applied to soil at two doses . Percentage of dead seedling , plant height , number of leaves plant-1 , number of branchesplant-1 , number of flower clusters plant-1 , shoot and root dry weight , P concentration in leaves and P-uptake by plant are investigated . The results showthat addition of CSP starter solution significantly decreases the percentage of dead seedling of compared with the control treatment. Plants received Phosphor starter solution show a higher growth parameters and P-uptake as compared with control treatment plants . Increasing the level of Phosphor starter solution from 0 to 0.20 % decreases percentage of dead seedling by 90.1 % and increased plant height by 19.23 % , number of leaves by 33 % , number of branches by 23.52 % , number of flower clusters by 69.24 % , shoot dry weight by 183.1 % , root dry weight by 175 % , P concentration by 60.8 % and P-uptake by 309.7% . Comparing between two tomato varieties ,results show thatSpeedy tomato varietyis more tolerant to transplanting and gives a higher growth and P-uptake ,the results show also tomato seedlings received starter solutions at three days after transplanting time appear more resistant to soil shuck of transplanting than those plants received starter solution at transplanting.