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[Effect of the substrate in tomato soilless culture]
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#200803
Original Research Paper
Crop Production > Soiless cultivation
Oct 2007
Apr 2008
Nikos G. Tzortzakis
Department of Hydroponics and Aromatic plants, Institute of Olive Tree and Subtropical Plants, National
Agricultural Research Foundation (N.AG.RE.F.), Agrokipion, 73100, Chania, Greece.
Phone: 0030 28210 83435
E-mail: ntzortzakis@Googlemail.com
Abstract
The interest in the use of mixtures of inorganic and organic materials as substrate media in soilless culture
in greenhouses is increasing in parts of the world where the mixtures have not been used in common
practice. In this study, tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.), cv. Belladona, plants were grown over a
five-month period in a closed soilless culture system on four different substrates (pumice and its mixture
with 25% or 50% shredded maize stems), as well as NFT, in an unheated glasshouse. The impact of
substrate on total yield was differentiated among the substrates and trusses, and became significant after
the 3rd truss with marketable improved yield after the addition of shredded maize stems into the inorganic
substrate (pumice). The results of this study indicated that the highest total yield was obtained in plants
grown on pumice+50%maize, followed by pumice+25%maize, maize, NFT and lastly by pumice. The
decline in yield when maize substrate employed, should be attributed to the reduction in volume of this
material due to decomposition. The fact that pumice substrate alone resulted in lower yields than maizecontaining substrates suggested better nutritional conditions in the latter. The greater number of
fruits/plant produced in the 1st truss whereas no differences observed in the other trusses. Maizecontaining inorganic substrates significantly improved mean fruit weight during the whole yielding
period. The mean fruit weight was lower in the first two trusses, comparing with the 3rd-5th trusses, and
this may be due to the greater number of fruits produced on the first two trusses. In exception, plants
grown on maize, produced higher mean fruit weight in the initial trusses, and this may attributed to the
higher substrate temperature recorded due to decomposition process. Plants grown on maize resulted on
greater fruit firmness compared with other substrates up to the 4th truss. Plants grown on
pumice+50%maize produced low values in fruit juice TSS, inevitably because they also had high number
of fruits/plant. No differences observed on the pH and the EC of the tomato fruit juice between the
treatments. Shredded maize stems can serve as a partial substitute for inorganic media while maintaining
or improving tomato fruit yield and fruit quality. The new information gained from this study could be
useful for hydroponic tomato production in the greenhouses of the Mediterranean region.
Keywords: Lycopersicum esculentum, maize, NFT, organic materials, pumice, soilless culture, tomato,
yield, truss
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Introduction
Since the late 1970s, as an alternative to expensive chemical soil disinfection methods and possible plant
residues, many growers have switched progressively to soilless culture. The soilless growing system of
protected vegetables has been developed due to a number of advantages and avoids problems associated
with decreasing fertility of natural soils, due to disease limitations and the increase in salinity (Verdonck,
1975; Olympios, 1992). In addition, growers needed to improve the efficiency and quality of the products,
by means of a better control of production through technological innovations in the nursery. Soilless
culture uses various substrates, depending on the local conditions and opportunities (Moinereau et al.,
1987), each one with its own specific physico-chemical properties.
The trend for the Mediterranean region is to use a closed system and bags filled with different substrates
to obtain the maximum advantages of each individual substrate. This type of production system also
allows growers to improve efficiently yields and product quality. However, rising costs of materials for
certain soilless systems, the disposal of some materials after use, and the lack of grower knowledge on the
use of substrates, limits the development of soilless culture in some parts of the world. The possibility of
using different materials for substrate, locally available and less costly than those imported, as well as
with no pollution limitations, but adequate physical and chemical properties (Verdonck, 1975), is a major
factor to solve these problems.
Several studies reported the favorable effect of organic media on plant growth (Hardgrave and Harriman,
1995; Ayuso et al., 1996; Tzortzakis and Economakis, 2005). These effects are direct, such as absorption
by the plants of the humic compounds that affect membrane permeability and certain enzymatic activities
(Chen and Aviad, 1990; Pinton et al., 1992), or indirect, such as stimulation of microbiological activity,
and increased cationic exchange capacity (CEC) in plants (Yu and Komada, 1999). Inorganic substrates,
such as vermiculite, sand, perlite, and pumice, are chemically inert, making it possible to supply nutrients
in a controlled manner (De Rijck and Schrevens, 1998). Methods such as composting, aging, washing of
locally available material, mixing inorganic and organic substances, and adding fertilizer are also
common practices in greenhouse production (Nichols, 1981; Yates and Rogers, 1981). These practices
increase substrate porosity and water holding capacity (Hardgrave and Harriman, 1995), reduce or
eliminate toxicity problems associated with organic or inorganic substrates and unsuitable C:N ratios, and
overcome limitations of individual materials (Nichols, 1981; Yates and Rogers, 1981). Organic substrates
with a moderate, or low biostability, will release the available nutrients, decrease porosity, increase
salinity due to mineralization and vary in their chemical properties, such as pH, electrical conductivity
(EC) and CEC as a consequence of the decomposition of the substrates organic matter (Lemaire, 1995,
1997). Decomposition could result in increased temperatures, retardation of nutrient release, and
alteration of the properties of the growing medium (Handreck, 1992). Organic products such as wheat
straw and flax waste, with a medium to low biostability (Bunt, 1976) cannot be used directly for making
substrates; they have to be composted, to the extent where they are biostable (Lemaire, 1997).
Worldwide, 12% of the hydroponic industry uses organic media as a substrate and/or as compost
(Donnan, 1998).
Many investigators have studied the changes in fruit content that occur during ripening. Customer tests
indicated that firmness and flavour are important criteria for high tomato quality (Vesseur, 1990). The
flavour of salad tomatoes and the value of processing tomatoes are closely related to the concentration of
total soluble solids (TSS) in fruit (Adams, 1987). Several studies have shown that the typical tomato
flavour depended on the ratio between sweet and acid tastes and that sugars have been important taste
constituents (Kader, 1986). Acid content is an important component of flavour and the differences in
sources can be explained by variation in pH and titratable acids. Moreover, an increased interest in tomato
products has been created by the fact that their consumption has been correlated to a reduced risk of some
types of cancer (Clinton et al., 1996).
Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important crop grown worldwide. The edible products (green cobs and grains)
constitute only 10-15% of the total harvest while the leftovers (stover) are generated in large quantities
annually (Akanbi and Togum, 2002). Several studies examined the beneficial effect of maize compost
applied on soil, resulted in soil enrichment with organic matter and increased yields (Hartz et al., 1996;
Akanbi and Togum, 2002) as well as in soilless culture (Tzortzakis and Economakis, 2005; 2007).
The work presented here, designed to study the use of different substrates in tomato culture, in order to
access the suitability of some local materials for soilless cultivation, comparing inorganic and organic
mixtures (pumice:maize), for tomato. Although pumice also possess some of these qualities, maize is
easier to dispose of than pumice. It might also be possible to mix other organic- or inorganic-media (i.e
perlite, sand) with maize to improve the chemical and physical properties of the substrate.
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300000
250000
31
28
200000
25
150000
22
19
100000
16
PAR (E m-2)
Temperature (T o C)
34
50000
13
10
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Weeks
PAR
Day ToC
Night ToC
Figure 1. Weekly day and night temperature (oC) as well as photosynthetic active radiation (PAR; E.m-2)
in the glasshouse during the cultivation period for tomato plant in soilless culture.
Each substrate was arranged in a single row on a greenhouse trough in nine 16 L capacity bags (two
plants in each bag), with 18 plants/row. Rows were 1.2 m apart and plants were separated in bags by 0.4
m. An additional 18 plants were placed in an NFT trough with a 3% slope. NFT is a system in which
plants are grown in troughs in which shallow nutrient solution (up to 1 cm) is continuously re-circulated.
Of the 18 plants in each row, nine constituted a treatment, with the 3rd through 11th plants used for data
collection. Irrigation emitters were placed at the base of each plant, and the bags had slits in the bottom
to allow drainage. Before transplanting, the bags were soaked with a full strength nutrient solution, made
using commercial fertilizers with 1.44N-0.25P-1K a.i. (v/v/v) content. Pumice was originated by Lava
(Yali, Greece). As plants grew, all lateral shoots were removed manually and the resulting single stem
was trained up a string according to the high wire system that plants were layered when they reach the
wire (2.3 m) and lower old-leaves were removed periodically, avoiding foliage self-shading. Temperature
sensors connected to a data logger using thermistors monitored temperatures in air, and in maize and
pumice substrates.
The soilless culture system was closed (50 L capacity catchment tanks). A solution (1:100 v/v) in water
containing the following concentration of nutrients: NO3-N=9.6, K=6.8, 4-P=1.7, Ca=4.0, Mg=2.8 and
Na=1.3 mmolL-1, respectively; and =27, Fe=73, n=17, Cu=3.6, Zn=6.6, and =1.2 molL-1,
respectively, was applied with a drip irrigation system, via emitters for the individual plants, by means of
pressure pumps. Nutrient solution of a similar composition was used in the NFT unit at a continuous flow
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Pumice
Pum.+25%maize
Pum.+50%maize
Maize
NFT
5
4
3
2
1
0
1
Truss
Figure 2. Effect of the substrate medium on the cumulative yield produced per truss during the cultivation
period in hydroponically grown tomatoes
The total number of fruits/plant harvested from each treatment varied and probably affected fruit quality
characteristics. The greater number of fruits/plant produced in the 1st truss with no great differences
observed in the other trusses (Fig. 3). However, plants grown on pumice produced significantly lower
total number of fruits/plant than in maize shredded stems which contrasts with the findings of Hardgrave
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Number of fruits/plant
Pumice
Pum.+25%maize
Pum.+50%maize
Maize
NFT
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
Truss
Figure 3. Effect of the substrate medium on the mean fruit number produced per truss during the
cultivation period in hydroponically grown tomatoes
Effect of substrate on fruit quality
An increase in fruit size was associated with improved climatic conditions (PAR, temperature) for the
majority of the substrates. Indeed, the mean fruit weight was lower in the first two trusses, comparing
with the 3rd-5th trusses, and this was due to the greater number of fruits on the first two trusses. In
exception, plants grown on maize, produced greater mean fruit weight in the initial trusses, and this may
attributed to the higher substrate temperature recorded; on average 1.6oC and 2oC during day and night
respectively comparing with the other substrates. The increased temperature of the organic substrate
should be due to the microbial decomposing activities in it. Maize-containing inorganic substrates
significantly improved mean fruit weight over the whole yielding period, whereas no differences
observed in the no-mixed substrates. These results are in accordance with previous studies reported
insignificant differences between pure organic and inorganic substrates on mean fruit weight (g) of
cucumber and tomatoes plants (Hardgrave and Hariman, 1995) and (Islam et. al. 2002) respectively.
Plants grown on maize resulted on greater fruit firmness compared with other substrates at the 1st till the
4th truss, whereas no differences observed for the 5th and 6th truss. TSS (oBrix) content of the fruit was
found to differ significantly between substrates. Plants grown on pumice and maize compared with
pumice+50%maize, pumice+25%maize and NFT produced a higher value of TSS. Plants grown on
pumice+50%maize produced low values in fruit juice TSS, inevitably because they also had high number
of fruits/plant (Table 3 and Fig. 2). Higher sugar and organic acid content improved tomato fruit quality
(Davies and Hobson, 1981). Islam et al. (2002) reported no differences in TSS on tomato fruit juice
between organic and inorganic substrates in accordance with the present study. The increase in fruit TSS
values from the 3rd to the 6th truss should be attributed to the gradually increasing light intensity during
the ripening period (Table 2 and Fig. 1), being in accordance to Went (1957) who stated that sugar
content is entirely a function of light intensity. The pH and the EC of the tomato fruit juice were not
significantly different on tomato cultivation with different substrates being in accordance with Islam et al.
(2002). Low pH is associated with high fruit quality (Davies and Hobson, 1981) and was recorded in the
substrates, which produced early yield (maize and pumice) as reported in previously (Tzortzakis and
Economakis, 2008). The increasing earliness of the organic substrates diminished the fruit quality for the
first tomato truss (Angelis et al., 2001).
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Pumice
Pum+25%Maize
Pum+50%Maize
Maize
1st truss
2nd truss
186 9.1
(ab)
232 14.1
(a)
218 12.7
(a)
229 20.2 (ab)
153 5.3
(ab)
189 10.3
(ab)
240 13.0
(a)
243 13.9
(a)
248 10.7
(ab)
210 21.1
(a)
170 6.5
(a)
172 11.5
(b)
240 13.5
(a)
236 12.8
(a)
277 15.8
(a)
227 16.3
(a)
161 5.5
(ab)
213 18.2
(a)
223 9.5
(ab)
200 11.6
(a)
199 16.5
(b)
157 10.2
(a)
3rd truss
4th truss
5th truss
6th truss
196 21.2
(a)
NFT
135 6.1
(b)
162 14.8
(b)
192 11.1
(b)
227 13.0 (a)
253 15.9
(ab)
230 10.3
(a)
Table 2. Effect of the substrate medium on the fruit firmness (Kg) per truss during the cultivation period
in hydroponically grown tomatoes
Truss
st
1 truss
2nd truss
3rd truss
4th truss
5th truss
6th truss
Pumice
1.28 0.092
(b)
1.03 0.058
(a)
1.25 0.079
(ab)
0.91 0.035
(b)
1.15 0.064
(a)
1.00 0.104
(a)
Pum+25%maize
Pum+50%maize
Maize
1.24 0.084
(b)
0.98 0.608
(a)
1.18 0.075
(ab)
0.85 0.060
(b)
1.17 0.057
(a)
0.97 0.048
(a)
1.33 0.086
(b)
0.97 0.062
(a)
1.23 0.036
(a)
0.98 0.037
(a)
1.13 0.063
(a)
1.03 0.025
(a)
1.65 0.099
(a)
1.18 0.069
(a)
1.17 0.061
(ab)
1.28 0.071
(a)
1.03 0.064
(a)
1.08 0.071
(a)
NFT
1.00 0.086
(b)
0.93 0.060
(c)
1.03 0.066
(b)
1.32 0.107
(b)
1.05 0.068
(a)
1.09 0.056
(a)
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1 truss
2nd truss
3rd truss
4th truss
5th truss
6th truss
Pumice
Pum+25%maize
Pum+50%maize
Maize
3.50 0.100
(a)
4.14 0.147 (a)
3.50 0.103
(a)
3.37 0.155
(bc)
3.50 0.151
(bc)
3.76 0.136
(b)
3.93 0.062
(b)
4.28 0.101
(a)
3.71 0.163
(a)
3.34 0.115
(bc)
3.66 0.105
(b)
3.89 0.111
(b)
4.05 0.079
(ab)
4.66 0.333
(a)
3.31 0.203
(a)
3.65 0.096
(ab)
3.84 0.164
(ab)
4.36 0.078
(a)
4.34 0.182
(a)
4.57 0.229
(a)
4.18 0.216
(a)
4.28 0.240
(a)
4.21 0.101
(ab)
4.25 0.250
(a)
NFT
3.58 0.172
(a)
3.22 0.173
(c)
3.10 0.124
(c)
3.60 0.111
(b)
3.96 0.132
(b)
3.50 0.129
(b)
Table 4. Effect of the substrate medium on the pH of the fruit juice per truss during the cultivation period
in hydroponically grown tomatoes
Truss
st
1 truss
2nd truss
3rd truss
4th truss
5th truss
6th truss
Pumice
Pum+25%maize
Pum+50%maize
Maize
3.86 0.027
(a)
4.00 0.037
(a)
4.18 0.026
(a)
4.45 0.117
(ab)
4.12 0.047
(ab)
4.05 0.050
(a)
3.80 0.034
(a)
4.20 0.103
(a)
4.13 0.023
(a)
4.41 0.067
(ab)
4.10 0.032
(b)
4.11 0.059
(a)
3.82 0.026
(a)
4.21 0.101
(ab)
4.16 0.023
(a)
4.32 0.027
(a)
4.19 0.028
(ab)
4.16 0.033
(a)
3.75 0.024
(a)
3.90 0.036
(b)
4.19 0.024
(a)
4.35 0.069
(ab)
4.16 0.036
(ab)
4.14 0.029
(a)
NFT
3.81 0.012
(a)
4.00 0.056
(ab)
4.15 0.023
(a)
4.20 0.053
(b)
4.21 0.031
(a)
4.11 0.031
(a)
Table 5. Effect of the substrate medium on the EC (mS/cm) of the fruit juice per truss during the
cultivation period in hydroponically grown tomatoes
Truss
Pumice
Pum+25%maize
Pum+50%maize
Maize
1st truss
3.16 0.071
(a)
2.87 0.104
(a)
3.27 0.116
(ab)
3.66 0.320
(a)
3.36 0.228
(a)
2.67 0.575
(a)
3.11 0.088
(a)
3.09 0.084
(a)
2.87 0.077
(b)
3.17 0.125
(a)
2.97 0.091
(a)
3.26 0.109
(a)
3.03 0.146
(a)
3.05 0.102
(a)
3.07 0.103
(a)
3.45 0.113
(a)
3.31 0.105
(a)
3.25 0.064
(a)
3.10 0.143
(a)
3.10 0.088
(a)
3.15 0.075
(ab)
3.34 0.135
(a)
3.17 0.092
(a)
3.43 0.275
(a)
2nd truss
3rd truss
4th truss
5th truss
6th truss
NFT
3.12 0.115
(a)
2.97 0.092
(a)
2.94 0.091
(b)
3.14 0.127
(a)
3.28 0.104
(a)
3.34 0.187
(a)
Acknowledgements
This work was supported in part by M.A.I.Ch. (Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania, Greece)
and N.AG.RE.F. (National Agriculture Research Foundation of Greece, Chania). We thank Dr A. Borland
(University of Newcastle, UK) for the critical revision to the manuscript.
References
Adams, P., 2002. Nutritional control in hydroponics: In Hydroponic Production of Vegetables and
Ornamentals, eds. D. Savvas and H.C. Passam, 211-261. Embryo Publications, Athens, Greece.
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