Effects of application of compost on growth and quality of tomatoes [Lycopersicon esculentum] under water stress due to root-zone restriction
1996
Manishi, K. (Kochi Univ., Nankoku (Japan). Faculty of Agriculture) | Fukumoto, Y. | Yoshida, T.
Tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cvs. Momotaro and Yuyake) were grown under 2 irrigation regimes (high and low water stress) and 3 amounts of bark compost application (0, 5, 10 kg/m(-2)) under root-zone restriction by placing root-proof sheets 25 cm below the soil surface. Highly soluble solid fruit juice contents (10-12%) were obtained from root restriction. The soluble solid contents were not affected by compost rates but fructose and glucose contents increased with the amount of compost application. The ratio of total sugar content to soluble solid content was higher in the plots to which compost was applied. Neither the number of tomatoes per plant nor the mean fresh weight was affected by the irrigation regime or amount of compost, but the incidence of blossom-end rot decreased with as the amount of compost applied increased, resulting in a higher yield of normal fruit. The fruit diameter expansion rate generally reached a maximum 8-12 d after anthesis. The application of compost reduced the fruit growth rate and hence delayed the time when maximum fruit growth rate was reached. The nitrogen concentration in plants and fruit was reduced but the Ca concentration in the distal half of fruit increased upon applicationof compost. These results indicate that application of compost reduces the incidence of blossom-end rot by reducing the uptake of nitrogen and slowing down the fruit growth rate
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