Effects of substrates on bean growing in the greenhouse

International Symposium on the Horizons of Using Organic Matter and Substrates in Horticulture -- APR 06-09, 2002 -- CAIRO, EGYPTWOS: 000185090200004This research was conducted in an unheated PE greenhouse at the Faculty of Agriculture, Ege University during the autumn and spring seasons of 2001 and 2002 in order to determine the effects of locally available substrates on bean plants grown in open system. In the experiment, the tested substrates were (1) perlite, (2) perlite+peat (3:1, v/v), (3) tuff and (4) tuff+peat (3:1, v/v). The substrates were filled into horizontal pots as 24 liters. The seeds of cv. Altin Belik were sown as three groups per pot on 3 September 2001 and 27 February 2002 for autumn and spring season production, respectively. Water and nutrient requirements of the plants were supplied with complete nutrient solution. Plants in different substrates were fed from the same tank, but drained water was collected into separate tanks from each plot and their volumes were recorded. The amount of drained water was kept at 20 % of the applied amount. In the experiment, yield, some fruit quality parameters (average pod weight, pod width, length and thickness, pod color and crude fibre content) and water consumption were measured. There were no significant differences among the substrates in respect to total yield in autumn and spring season production.ISH

Organic cucumber production under greenhouse conditions

International Symposium on the Horizons of Using Organic Matter and Substrates in Horticulture -- APR 06-09, 2002 -- CAIRO, EGYPTWOS: 000185090200019Organic agriculture aims to protect the natural balance and to produce without damaging the environment. The easily soluble and synthetic chemicals are avoided in organic agriculture and the chemicals are used in the natural forms. Therefore, organic agriculture has become a necessity in greenhouses where chemicals are used intensively. In the present study, two irrigation levels (soil moisture tensions of 30 and 50 cb) and four organic fertilisers (farmyard manure, 30 tons.ha(-1) + E 2001 + Allgrow Bioplasma; farmyard manure, 50 tons.ha(-1); chicken manure, 30 tons.ha(-1) + E 2001 + Allgrow Bioplasma and chicken manure, 50 tons.ha(-1)) were tested in a PE house in cucumber production during the spring season of 2001. The effects of treatments were found statistically insignificant. The average total yield was 7.01 kg/plant. During the harvest period, fruit samples were taken and analysed for their quality parameters (fruit length, fruit diameter, average fruit weight, colour, firmness, total dry matter content of fruits and total soluble solids, titratable acidity, pH, EC of fruit juice) at four weeks intervals. In terms of quality parameters, there were no significant differences among the tested treatments.ISH

Effect of continuous and intermittent solution circulation on tomato plants grown in NFT

World Congress on Soilless Culture -- MAY 14-18, 2000 -- MAALE HACHAMISHA, ISRAELWOS: 000171524100021This experiment was carried out during the autumn in 1998 and spring in 1999. Three different tomato varieties were grown in NFT systems in which nutrient solution was circulated continuously or intermittently. The intermittent flow system was controlled by a timer set for 45 minutes flowing and 15 minutes off. In autumn, harvest season extended for 4 months. Intermittent flow increased cumulative yields compared to continuous flow by 106.8, 50.7 and 14.2 % in the first 3 months of picking in order. However, there was no significant difference between continuous and intermittent circulation in respect to total yield. In spring, solution circulation regime did not affect neither the early nor the total yield. Although there were no significant differences between intermittent and continuous flow in fruit quality characteristics in autumn, intermittent flow resulted in a marked increase in the EC of fruit juice and decrease in dry matter and vitamin C content in spring. In both seasons, significant differences were found between varieties with respect to some parameters, but the interactions between circulation regime and variety were not significant.ISHS Commiss Plant Substrates, ISOSC, Working Grp Soilless Cultur

Effects of different leaching fractions and substrates on tomato growing

26th International Horticultural Congress -- AUG 11-17, 2002 -- TORONTO, CANADAWOS: 000222371800037This study was conducted during the autumn and spring seasons of 1999 and 2000 to determine the effects of two leaching fractions and two locally available substrates on yield, fruit quality and water and nutrient consumption of tomato. Irrigation was realized according to the leaching fractions adjusted as 5-10% or 15-20%. The tested substrates were (1) perlite and (2) perlite + peat (3:1, v/v). The experimental design was a split plot with 4 replicates. The main plots and sub-subplots were leaching fractions and substrates, respectively. Besides the total yield and some quality parameters (average fruit weight, total soluble solids, total dry matter content, pH, EC, vitamin C and titratable acidity), water and nutrient consumption were determined. The average total yields were 11.46 and 14.78 kg m(-2) in autumn and spring seasons, respectively. The amount of average water and nutrient saved by the decreasing of leaching fraction was 15% in autumn and 10% in spring.Canadian Soc Hort Sci, Int Soc Hort Sci, Univ Guelp

Evapotranspiration of tomato plants grown in different soilless culture systems

5th International Symposium on Protected Cultivation in Mild Winter Climates -- MAR 07-11, 2000 -- CARTAGENA, SPAINWOS: 000173292200081This study aimed at measuring evapotranspiration of greenhouse tomato plants grown in Nutrient Film Technique (NFT), open and closed substrate culture during autumn and spring seasons of 1998-1999. In NFT, recirculation of the solution was provided intermittently (45 min on and 15 min off) and continously. In substrate culture, four different substrates [perlite, tuff, perlite + peat (4: 1, v/v), tuff + peat (4: 1, v/v)] were tested in autumn and spring seasons under irrigation schedule based on integrated solar radiation. Cultivars Gokce F-1 and FA 361 F-1 were used in autumn and spring seasons, respectively. The results showed that evapotranspiration of tomato plants varied according to the treatments and growing season. The evapotranspiration in the season ranged between 204.4 and 296.6 mm in autumn and 391.5 and 514.1 mm in spring. The highest daily evapotranspiration values were 4.4 mm in autumn and 8.2 mm in spring in NFT. Regarding the substrate culture, the highest evapotranspiration was obtained from perlite + peat (4:1, v/v). Besides, relationships between actual ET and reference ET are presented.Int Soc Hort Sci, Spanish Soc Hort Sci, Univ Politecn Cartagena, Porquilab, Nutricontrol, Novedades Agricolas SA, Minist Educ, Cultura & Deportes, Fdn Seneca Reg Murci

Effects of EC level of the nutrient solution on yield and fruit quality of tomatoes

5th International Symposium on Protected Cultivation in Mild Winter Climates -- MAR 07-11, 2000 -- CARTAGENA, SPAINWOS: 000173292200086This research was conducted in an unheated greenhouse during autumn and spring seasons of 1998 and 1999 to determine the effect of EC levels of the nutrient solution on yield and fruit quality of different tomato varieties. Cultivars 189 F-1 and 870 F-1 were grown in autumn season. Sowing and planting dates were July 20 and August 28, 1998. In spring, cvs. FA 361 F-1 and Target F-1 seeds were sown on January 4 and plants were transferred to the pots filled with perlite on March 12, 1999. Plants were planted in the pots at 95 x 25 cm spacing and were fed with a complete nutrient solution at an electrical conductivity of (a) 2.0 (control), (b) 4.0, (c) 6.0 and (d) 8.0 dS.m(-1). Total yield, harvested fruit number, average fruit weight. fruit size and some other fruit quality parameters (dry matter content-DM-, total soluble solids-TSS-, titratable acidity-TA-, pH and EC of fruit juice) and blossom-end rot (BER) incidence were determined. EC level of the nutrient solution was found significantly effective on yield and fruit quality. Increasing EC levels of nutrient solution reduced the yield and fruit size, and increased BER incidence, however, fruit EC, TSS, TA and DM contents increased with increasing EC levels. Variety x EC level interaction was not found to be significantly different, however varieties were found significantly different in respect to yield and fruit size in autumn season.Int Soc Hort Sci, Spanish Soc Hort Sci, Univ Politecn Cartagena, Porquilab, Nutricontrol, Novedades Agricolas SA, Minist Educ, Cultura & Deportes, Fdn Seneca Reg Murci

Comparison of open and closed systems on yield and quality of greenhouse grown tomatoes

2nd Balkan Symposium on Vegetables and Potatoes -- OCT 11-15, 2000 -- THESSALONIKI, GREECEWOS: 000177999500103In this research, three variables: nutrition system, substrate and irrigation schedule, were tested. The nutrient solution was supplied in closed or open systems. The substrates were volcanic tuff, perlite, perlite+peat (3:1, v/v) and perlite+peat (1:1, v/v), and irrigation was scheduled based on indoor solar radiation levels of 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0 MJ/m(2). The closed system gave yields as high as in the open system without quality loss, and reduced the amount of wasted water by up to 3.4 times compared to the open system. Perlite and volcanic tuff gave higher yields than perlite and peat mixtures. It is recommended that tomato plants should be grown in volcanic tuff or perlite in a closed system with irrigation provided at an indoor solar radiation level of 1 MJ/m(2).Hellen Minist Agr, N AG RE F Agr Res Ctr Macedonia & Thrace, Minist Macedonia & Thrace, Afg Bank Greece, Hellen Sugar Indu S A, Elga, Bios AgrSyst, Municipal Thermi, Geotherm Greenhouses - Equipment, Scientact S A, Rockwool Grodan MED S A, Plastika Kritis, Psyllakis Nikolaos, Ypsilon, Rigas Labs, Agribous, Asteriadis S A, Ferror Plas

Effects of different EC levels of nutrient solution on greenhouse tomato growing

International Symposium on Techniques to Control Salination for Horticultural Productivity -- NOV 07-10, 2000 -- ANTALYA, TURKEYWOS: 000176732300053This research was conducted in an unheated bitunnel during autumn and spring seasons of 1999 and 2000 to determine the effects of different EC levels in nutrient solution on yield and fruit quality of tomatoes grown in perlite. Tomato cultivars Gokce F-1 and FA 361 F-1 were tested in autumn (September, 1999-March, 2000) and spring seasons (April-July, 2000), respectively. The seedlings were planted in the horizontal pots placed 95 cm apart, filled with perlite (24 litres per pot) and containing three plants. Plants were fed with a complete nutrient solution at electrical conductivity levels of (a) 2.0 (control), (b) 3.0, (c) 4.0 and (d) 5.0 dS m(-1). Sodium chloride was added to the standard nutrient solution (control) to obtain higher EC levels. Cumulative yield, harvested fruit number, average fruit weight, fruit classification according to diameter and some fruit quality parameters (total soluble solids, titratable acidity, pH and EC of fruit juice, dry matter content) determined. In both seasons, the highest total yield (13.72 kg.m(-2) in autumn and 12.34 kg m(-2)) was obtained from the control treatment (2.0 dS m(-1)). EC level of 3.0 dS m(-1) was ranked statistically as the second group followed by the third group composing of the treatments 4.0 and 5.0 dS m(-1). Harvested fruit number was not effected by salinity neither in autumn nor in spring, but average fruit weight decreased with increasing salinity. In autumn season, EC and titratable acidity of the fruit juice and contents of total soluble solids and dry matter increased with increasing EC levels, whereas pH of the fruit juice was the highest at 2.0 dS m(-1). Similar results were obtained in respect to EC of fruit juice in the spring season. Although titratable acidity, total soluble solids and dry matter contents showed an increasing trend with increasing salinity, differences were not significant.TSHS, EUFA, CIHEAM IAMB, Int Soc Hort Sc