Study on the effects of soilless media on the growth and yield of tomato in drip fertigation system

Results of the study showed that bulk density of each type of soilless media slightly increased after being used in one cropping season including the moisture content under a water tension of 1/10 bar, except for coir-sand mixture. In contrast, air capacity under a water tension of 1/10 bar of each type decreased after one cropping season although the decrease did not reach the level that would limit the growth and yield of tomato. Moreover, the pH value of each type of soilless media showed a slight increasing trend after one cropping season. As for the growth of tomato planted in the different types of soilless media, results showed that plant height of tomato corps at 60, 80, 100 and 120 days, were not significantly different. Tomatoes in coir-sand had the tallest plants but not significantly different from tomatoes planted in coir-rice husk/chicken manure, coir, coir-rice husk/ash and coconut husk rice husk/chicken manure. In contrast, tomatoes planted in rice husk-chicken manure showed the shortest plants. Tomatoes planted in all types of soilless media gave similar stem diameters, with no significant differences among the values. Further results showed that highest yield was shown by tomato plants grown in coir-rice husk/chicken manure with ten tomatoes weighing 0.83 kg per plant. Meanwhile, tomatoes planted in rice husk-chicken manure gave the lowest yield of 4 tomatoes weighing 0.35 kg/plant. However, average stem diameter was between 4.5 to 5.5 cm. From the study, it was found that coir-rice husk/chicken manure, coir, coir-rice husk/ash and coir-sand showed to be suitable in allowing the tomato plants to have almost similar growth and yield besides being non-toxic to the plants with good water retention and ventilation besides being light in weight. The study also found that materials that were not suitable to be used as soilless media for plants included coconut husk-rice husk/chicken manure and rice husk-chicken manure due to lower water retention ability and more compaction after having been used in one cropping season.