The Effects of Nitrogen, Potassium and Sub-Irrigation on the Yield, Quality and Composition of Single-Truss Tomatoes

Abstract

SummaryThe effects of nitrogen and potassium on the growth of single-truss tomatoes and on the yield and quality of the fruit have been examined. Two successive crops of cv. Minicraigella were grown with sub-irrigation in a tiered-trough system, the troughs containing a 7:3:2 mixture of loam, peat and grit. Four concentrations of nitrogen in solution (100, 150, 200 and 250 ppm N) were tested in factorial combination with three concentrations of potassium (200, 300 and 400 ppm K), the treatments being replicated four times.Plant height and leaf length increased markedly with N concentration, as also did the numbers of flowers and marketable fruits per plant, the mean weight per fruit and the total yield. Low N levels delayed harvesting. The proportion of unevenly ripened fruit decreased with increasing concentrations both of N and K. The percentage of hollow fruits was decreased by high K but increased with N concentration.The titratable acidity of the expressed fruit juices increased significantly with N concentration (P<0.001) but was little affected by K treatment. The N concentration of the nutrient solution also largely controlled the percentage of K in the leaves and the total uptake of this nutrient. These unexpected results were attributed to stimulation of growth by N, leading to increased water requirement and hence to increased application of both N and K by the automatic sub-irrigation system.The highest yields and best quality fruit were obtained with 250 ppm N and 400 ppm K in the solution, although lower concentrations of K might be preferable after continued cropping in the same compost.