Tomato plant growth, leaf nutrient concentrations and fruit quality under nitrogen foliar applications

Abstract

Tomato is a typical plant that has distinct response to different nitrogen forms in hydroponic culture. In addition, it is a well known susceptible plant to ammonium nutrition in hydroponic culture. However, its response to foliar application of nitrogen sources and N-forms has not been well investigated. In the present study, the growth, productivity and fruit quality of tomato was investigated under foliar application of nitrogen from different sources. Ammonium sulfate, urea and calcium nitrate with constant concentration of 100 mM N were weekly sprayed during four months under hydroponic culture system. A water spray treatment was considered as control. The results showed that vegetative growth parameters were significantly affected by N sources in different patterns. The factors such as plant height, leaf area, number of lateral shoots and shoot fresh and dry weight, as well as leaf nitrate reductase activity was significantly reduced by foliar application of ammonium sulfate and to less extent by urea, while there was improvement of these traits by foliar application of calcium nitrate compared to control. However, ammonium sulfate treated plants had the highest leaf SPAD value and leaf N concentrations. Plant fruiting pattern was also influenced by treatments, as ammonium sulfate spray reduced the fruit yield, and fruit vitamin C content, while it increased fruit TSS and titratable acidity. The highest value of yield and vitamin C was recorded in calcium nitrate sprayed plants.