scholarly journals Fertilizer Substitutions in Hydroponically Grown Greenhouse Tomatoes

1999 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.P. Papadopoulos ◽  
S. Pararajasingham ◽  
X. Hao
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Total Yield ◽  
Growth Yield ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Crop Growth ◽  
Partial Substitution ◽  
Marketable Yield ◽  
Nutrient Film Technique ◽  
Marketable Fruit ◽  
Crop Growth Stage

Experiments were carried out to evaluate two salts, K2SO4 and NaCl, as materials to supplement the electrical conductivity (EC) of the basic nutrient solution in nutrient film technique (NFT). The effects of these materials on the growth, yield and fruit quality of greenhouse tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) grown by NFT were quantified. These effects were tested by increasing the recirculating solution EC from a base value of 1500 μS·cm-1 to that suitable for the crop growth stage with normal feed (macronutrients), 0.38 m (0.53 lb/gal) K2SO4 or 1.14 m (0.55 lb/gal) NaCl, at a common pH of 6.2. In 1995 and 1996, there were no significant effects of the treatments on crop growth. In 1995, the early marketable yield was significantly lower when K2SO4 was used but the yield at the end of the season did not differ among the treatments. Furthermore, with K2SO4, the proportion of grade #1 fruit in early total yield was lower than in the control, while, fruit biomass content was higher than in the NaCl treatment. In 1996, the cumulative marketable fruit weight was unaffected by the treatments. A trend toward high number of large grade fruit occurred with the NaCl treatment. The pH and EC of the fruit homogenate were favorably affected by the NaCl treatment. Adding K2SO4 or NaCl in partial substitution of macronutrients in the recirculating solution may have a role in NFT systems in not only reducing environmental pollution (from nitrates and phosphates) and fertilizer costs, but also in improving fruit quality and, therefore, profit margins.

scholarly journals Effect of Salinity on Yield, Fruit Quality, Leaf Gas Exchange, and Mineral Composition of Grafted Watermelon Plants

HortScience ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 622-627 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guiseppe Colla ◽  
Youssef Roupahel ◽  
Mariateresa Cardarelli ◽  
Elvira Rea
Keyword(s):  
Gas Exchange ◽  
Mineral Composition ◽  
Nutrient Solution ◽  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Leaf Gas Exchange ◽  
Citrullus Lanatus ◽  
Total Yield ◽  
Leaf Tissue ◽  
Growth Yield ◽  
Marketable Yield

A greenhouse experiment was carried out to determine growth, yield, fruit quality, gas exchange and mineral composition of watermelon plants (Citrullus Lanatus L. `Tex'), either ungrafted or grafted onto two commercial rootstocks `Macis' [Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standl.] and `Ercole' (Cucurbita maxima Duchesne × Cucurbita moschata Duchesne) and cultured in NFT. Plants were supplied with a nutrient solution having an electrical conductivity (EC) of 2.0 or 5.2 dS·m–1. The saline nutrient solution had the same basic composition, plus an additional of 29 mm of NaCl. Increased salinity in the nutrient solution decreased total yield. The reduction in total yield in saline treatments compared to control was due to a reduction in the fruit mean mass and not to the number of fruit per plant. Total fruit yield was 81% higher in grafted than in ungrafted plants. The lowest marketable yield recorded on ungrafted plants was associated with a reduction in both fruit mean mass and the number of fruits per plant in comparison to grafted plants. Salinity improved fruit quality in all grafting combinations by increasing dry matter (DM), glucose, fructose, sucrose, and total soluble solid (TSS) content. Nutritional qualities of grafted watermelons such as fruit DM, glucose, fructose, sucrose, and TSS content were similar in comparison to those of ungrafted plant. In all grafting combinations, negative correlations were recorded between Na+ and Cl– in the leaf tissue and net assimilation of CO2 Grafting reduced concentrations of sodium, but not chloride, in leaves. However, the sensitivity to salinity was similar between grafted and ungrafted plants and the higher total yield from grafting plants was mainly due to grafting per se.

Effects of Trichoderma harzianum on the yield and fruit quality of tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum) grown in an unheated greenhouse

2006 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 131 ◽  
Author(s):  
U. Bal ◽  
S. Altintas
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Trichoderma Harzianum ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Total Yield ◽  
Titratable Acidity ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Marketable Yield ◽  
Growing Media ◽  
Growing Period

Trichoderma harzianum was applied to seedling growing media (a peat and soil-based mixture or greenhouse soil) at the time of sowing, at transplanting to vials and at planting. The factorial experiment using 2 seedling growing media, 2 cultivars and 4 dosages of T. harzianum at 0 (control), 4 g/m2, 10 g/m2 and 24 g/m2 showed that the Trichoderma dosage had no significant effect on the yield or fruit quality. None of the 3 factor interactions between the criteria studied, that is, total yield, marketable yield, early yield, individual fruit weight, total soluble solids and titratable acidity, were significant except for fruit diameter. The 3 factor combination of Peat × Belleveu F1 × 10 g/m2 resulted in the highest total yield, marketable yield and early yield with 1552, 1373 and 681 g/plant, respectively. The interaction between media and cultivars was significant for all the yield characteristics studied. However, the main effect of T. harzianum on early yield was the highest at 4 g/m2, producing 527 g/plant in comparison to the control with 374 g/plant. It was, therefore, hypothesised that the positive effect of T. harzianum, observed in the early yield, may be extended to the whole growing period by further applications, that is, by periodical renewal of the T. harzianum population at the root zone.

scholarly journals Effect of synthetic mulches on melon (Cucumis melo L.) yielding

2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 151-156
Author(s):  
Edyta Kosterna ◽  
Anna Zaniewicz-Bajkowska ◽  
Jolanta Franczuk ◽  
Robert Rosa ◽  
Krystyna Chromińska ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cucumis Melo ◽  
Total Yield ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Fruit Yield ◽  
Marketable Yield ◽  
Synthetic Materials ◽  
Polypropylene Fabric ◽  
Marketable Fruit

Effect of synthetic mulches on melon (Cucumis meloL.) yieldingA field experiment was carried out in 2006-2008. The study examined the effect of soil mulching with synthetic materials (black polyethylene film, black polypropylene nonwoven 50 g m-2, and black polypropylene fabric 94 g m-2) on the fruit yield and quality of two melon cultivars (‘Seledyn’ and ‘Yupi’) grown in the field under the climatic conditions of central-eastern Poland. Specimens grown without mulching served as the control. The climatic conditions during the study years had a significant influence on the level of total, marketable and early yield of melon. The highest melon yield was obtained in 2007, which was characterised by the most favourable weather conditions for melon cultivation. The comparison of the cultivars showed that ‘Seledyn’ was better adapted to the climatic conditions of Poland. From cultivation, this cultivar achieved significantly higher early and total fruit yield compared with ‘Yupi’. ‘Seledyn’ was also characterised by a higher share of early yield of the total yield, a higher number of fruit in the early yield and a higher mean fruit weight. In turn, ‘Yupi’ produced a significantly higher share of marketable yield of the total yield and a higher number of marketable fruit.

scholarly journals Influence of Cultivar, Growing Media, and Cluster Pruning on Greenhouse Tomato Yield and Fruit Quality

2009 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 395-399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanna Y. Hanna
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
The Other ◽  
Pine Bark ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Marketable Yield ◽  
Growing Media ◽  
Greenhouse Tomato ◽  
Tomato Yield ◽  
Marketable Fruit

Cultivars and growing media are important components of a successful greenhouse tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) operation. Two studies were conducted simultaneously and independently in two 30 × 96-ft greenhouses in Spring 2006 and 2007 (January–July) to assist producers in selecting appropriate cultivars and reducing production cost. The first study was conducted to evaluate yield, fruit weight, fruit quality, and shelf life of ‘Geronimo’, ‘Quest’, and ‘Trust’ tomatoes planted in perlite and pruned to three or four fruit per cluster. The second study was conducted to determine the initial cost of perlite, pine bark, and rockwool growing media and their effect on yield of ‘Quest’ pruned to three or four fruit per cluster. ‘Geronimo’ produced the highest total marketable yield and ‘Trust’ produced the lowest. ‘Trust’ produced more cull yield and lower fruit weight than ‘Geronimo’ or ‘Quest’. Pruning clusters to three fruit increased total marketable yield and fruit weight, and reduced cull yield of all cultivars. Only ‘Geronimo’ produced higher early marketable yield at four fruit per cluster. All cultivars produced higher early marketable yield in 2007 than in 2006. Tested cultivars had similar fruit content of potassium and sodium and similar concentration of soluble solids. ‘Trust’ fruit had a higher pH than the other two cultivars. About 92% of ‘Quest’ tomatoes remained marketable after storage at 67 °F for 1 week. ‘Geronimo’ and ‘Trust’ had only 83% and 78% marketable fruit, respectively, under the same conditions. Initial costs to grow greenhouse tomatoes in perlite were higher than in rockwool, and were the lowest in pine bark. Plants grown in perlite produced higher total marketable yield than plants grown in either of the other media. They produced lower cull yield than plants grown in rockwool, but produced similar cull yield to plants grown in pine bark. Pruning clusters to three fruit increased total marketable yield and fruit weight in both studies. Pruning clusters to four fruit increased cull yield in both studies regardless of planting year.

scholarly journals Effects of Controlling pH with Hydrochloric Acid on the Growth, Yield, and Fruit Quality of Greenhouse Tomato Grown by Nutrient Film Technique

1998 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 193-198
Author(s):  
A.P. Papadopoulos ◽  
S. Pararajasingham
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Growth Yield ◽  
Fruit Production ◽  
Fruit Yield ◽  
Genotypic Differences ◽  
Marketable Yield ◽  
Solution Ph ◽  
Tomato Production ◽  
Greenhouse Tomato ◽  
Nutrient Film Technique

In growing greenhouse tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) using the nutrient film technique (NFT), HNO3 or H3PO4 is usually added to offset the increase in pH of the recirculating solution. For economic and environmental reasons, HCl would be a possible substitute for either HNO3 or H3PO4. Therefore, experiments were initiated to evaluate HCl as an alternative acid in controlling the pH of the recirculating solution in NFT-grown greenhouse tomato. The effects of HNO3, H3PO4, and HCl on the growth, fruit yield, and fruit quality were quantified. In 1995, these effects were tested using `Trust' and `BST 7804' at a recirculating solution pH of 5.5, 6.0, or 6.5; in 1996, only `Trust' was grown at a recirculating solution pH of 6.2. In the 1995 experiment, genotypic differences in marketable fruit yield tended to be smaller when HCl was used to control the recirculating solution pH at 6.0 than when either H3PO4 or HNO3 was used. In `Trust', at a pH of 5.5 under the HCl treatment, fruit quality tended to be higher than in other treatment combinations. In 1996, over a 45-day period, the concentration of Cl− that accumulated in the recirculating solution from added HCl was 313 mg·L−1 (313 ppm). There were no significant effects of the treatments on the growth, fruit quality, or yield of the crop. The total marketable yield was better when HCl had been used, likely due to high fruit production at the early part of the harvesting period. Potential savings for the season can be achieved if HCl is substituted for H3PO4 to regulate the nutrient solution pH in NFT-based greenhouse tomato production.

scholarly journals Effects of Air Quality on Growth, Yield, and Quality of Watermelon

HortScience ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 26 (8) ◽  
pp. 1045-1047 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard G. Snyder ◽  
James E. Simon ◽  
Richard A. Reinert ◽  
Michael Simini ◽  
Gerald E. Wilcox
Keyword(s):  
Citrullus Lanatus ◽  
Total Yield ◽  
Growth Yield ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Foliar Injury ◽  
Marketable Yield ◽  
Yield And Quality ◽  
Ambient Concentrations ◽  
Significant Yield ◽  
Marketable Fruit

Watermelon, Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum & Nakai cv. Sugar Baby, were grown in the field as a fall crop in open-top chambers (OTC) in southwestern Indiana with either charcoal-filtered (CF) or nonfiltered (NF) air. Ozone and sulfur dioxide were continuously monitored in OTC and ambient air. There was a significant decrease in marketable yield by weight (19.9%, P = 0.05), percentage of marketable fruit by number (20.8%, P = 0.10), and total yield by weight (21.5%, P = 0.05) from plants grown in the NF air treatment compared with those grown in CF air. Ozone-induced foliar injury was significantly greater on plants grown under NF conditions. Ambient concentrations of 03 in southwestern Indiana caused foliar injury (P = 0.10) and significant yield loss to a fall crop of watermelons.

scholarly journals Effects of Rootstock, Tree Density and Training System on Early Growth, Yield and Fruit Quality of Blush Pear

HortScience ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Lexie McClymont ◽  
Ian Goodwin ◽  
Desmond Whitfield ◽  
Mark O’Connell ◽  
Susanna Turpin
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Vegetative Growth ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Growth Yield ◽  
Substantial Effect ◽  
Training System ◽  
Tree Density ◽  
High Density ◽  
Marketable Yield ◽  
And Training

Vegetative growth, orchard productivity, fruit quality and marketable yield were evaluated for rootstock (D6, BP1 and Quince A), tree density (741–4444 trees/ha), and training system (Open Tatura trellis, two-dimensional vertical and three-dimensional traditional) effects on young trees of the blush pear cultivar ‘ANP-0131’. ‘ANP-0131’ is a vigorous scion and vegetative growth, precocity, and yield were influenced by the selected rootstocks. Tree density and training system treatments exerted a substantial effect on canopy radiation interception while increasing tree density improved yield. Increasing tree density from 2222 (high density) to 4444 (ultra-high density) trees/ha did not improve cumulative yield. Crop load affected fruit size, such that “marketable” yield (yield of fruit weighing between 150 and 260 g) was greatest for trees on D6 rootstock and trained to Open Tatura trellis at high and ultra-high densities.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Sweet Pepper (Capsicum annum L.) Varieties as Influnced by Nitrogen Levels in Chitwan, Nepal

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-42
Author(s):  
Santosh Lohani ◽  
Moha Dutta Sharma ◽  
Shree Chandra Shah ◽  
Arjun Kumar Shrestha
Keyword(s):  
Block Design ◽  
Total Yield ◽  
Growth Yield ◽  
Sweet Pepper ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Chemical Fertilizer ◽  
Nitrogen Levels ◽  
Randomized Complete Block Design ◽  
Number Of Leaves ◽  
Better Than

An experiment was conducted to assess the performance of sweet pepper varieties as influenced by nitrogen levels from August 2014 to February 2015 at Mangalpur, Chitwan. The experiment was laid out in two factorial Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications having sixteen treatments. Varieties and levels of nitrogen significantly affected growth, yield and qualitative parameters of fruits. Hybrid Indra and NS 632 performed better than open pollinated varieties viz. Sagar and California Wonder. Days to fifty percent flowering of NS 632 were earlier than California Wonder. Indra variety had the highest plant height (52.18 cm), number of secondary branches per plant (13.51) from 250 kg N/ha through chemical fertilizer while number of leaves per plant was higher in NS 632 variety (57.22) than Sagar variety (47.37). Indra variety showed the highest fruit weight (87.59 g) and total yield (39.45 t/ha) but NS 632 variety produced more number of fruits per plant (9.25) than California Wonder variety. This study showed that sweet pepper yield of hybrid varieties applied with 250 kg N/ha through chemical fertilizer was appropriate dose to get optimum yield under Chitwan condition.

scholarly journals Influence of Pre- and Postharvest Summer Pruning on the Growth, Yield, Fruit Quality, and Carbohydrate Content of Early Season Peach Cultivars

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Ikinci
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Growth Yield ◽  
Titratable Acidity ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Carbohydrate Content ◽  
Shoot Length ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Carbohydrate Accumulation ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Climate Conditions

Winter and summer pruning are widely applied processes in all fruit trees, including in peach orchard management. This study was conducted to determine the effects of summer prunings (SP), as compared to winter pruning (WP), on shoot length, shoot diameter, trunk cross sectional area (TCSA) increment, fruit yield, fruit quality, and carbohydrate content of two early ripening peach cultivars (“Early Red” and “Maycrest”) of six years of age, grown in semiarid climate conditions, in 2008 to 2010. The trees were grafted on GF 677 rootstocks, trained with a central leader system, and spaced 5 × 5 m apart. The SP carried out after harvesting in July and August decreased the shoot length significantly; however, it increased its diameter. Compared to 2009, this effect was more marked in year 2010. In general, control and winter pruned trees of both cultivars had the highest TCSA increment and yield efficiency. The SP increased the average fruit weight and soluble solids contents (SSC) more than both control and WP. The titratable acidity showed no consistent response to pruning time. The carbohydrate accumulation in shoot was higher in WP and in control than in SP trees. SP significantly affected carbohydrate accumulation; postharvest pruning showed higher carbohydrate content than preharvest pruning.

scholarly journals Early Season Growth, Yield, and Fruit Quality of Standard and Mini Watermelon Grafted onto Several Commercially Available Cucurbit Rootstocks

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 459-469 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew B. Bertucci ◽  
Katherine M. Jennings ◽  
David W. Monks ◽  
Jonathan R. Schultheis ◽  
Penelope Perkins-Veazie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area ◽  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Growth Yield ◽  
The United States ◽  
Marketable Yield ◽  
Early Season ◽  
Flesh Firmness ◽  
Lycopene Content

Grafting watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is a common practice in many parts of the world and has recently received increased interest in the United States. The present study was designed to evaluate early season growth, yield, and fruit quality of watermelon in response to grafting and in the absence of known disease pressure in a fumigated system. Field experiments were conducted using standard and mini watermelons (cv. Exclamation and Extazy, respectively) grafted onto 20 commercially available cucurbit rootstocks representing four species: giant pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima), summer squash (Cucurbita pepo), bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria), and interspecific hybrid squash [ISH (C. maxima × Cucurbita moschata)]. Nongrafted ‘Exclamation’ and ‘Extazy’ were included as controls. To determine early season growth, leaf area was measured at 1, 2, and 3 weeks after transplant (WAT). At 1 WAT, nongrafted ‘Exclamation’ produced the smallest leaf area; however, at 3 WAT, nongrafted ‘Exclamation’ produced the largest leaf area in 2015, and no differences were observed in 2016. Leaf area was very similar among rootstocks in the ‘Extazy’ study, with minimal differences observed. Marketable yield included fruit weighing ≥9 and ≥3 lb for ‘Exclamation’ and ‘Extazy’, respectively. In the ‘Exclamation’ study, highest marketable yields were observed in nongrafted ‘Exclamation’, and ‘Exclamation’ grafted to ‘Pelops’, ‘TZ148’, and ‘Coloso’, and lowest marketable yields were observed when using ‘Marvel’ and ‘Kazako’ rootstocks, which produced 47% and 32% of nongrafted ‘Exclamation’ yield, respectively. In the ‘Extazy’ study, the highest marketable yield was observed in nongrafted ‘Extazy’, and ‘Kazako’ produced the lowest yields (48% of nongrafted ‘Extazy’). Fruit quality was determined by measuring fruit acidity (pH), soluble solids concentration (SSC), lycopene content, and flesh firmness from a sample of two fruit from each plot from the initial two harvests of each year. Across both studies, rootstock had no effect on SSC or lycopene content. As reported in previous studies, flesh firmness was increased as a result of grafting, and nongrafted ‘Exclamation’ and ‘Extazy’ had the lowest flesh firmness among standard and mini watermelons, respectively. The present study evaluated two scions with a selection of 20 cucurbit rootstocks and observed no benefits in early season growth, yield, or phytonutrient content. Only three of 20 rootstocks in each study produced marketable yields similar to the nongrafted treatments, and no grafted treatment produced higher yields than nongrafted ‘Exclamation’ or ‘Extazy’. Because grafted seedlings have an associated increase in cost and do not produce increased yields, grafting in these optimized farming systems and using fumigated soils does not offer an advantage in the absence of soilborne pathogens or other stressors that interfere with watermelon production.

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