IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT IN GREENHOUSE TOMATO PRODUCTION ON ROCKWOOL

Ongoing research on organic growing media for greenhouse tomato production is driven by the constant changes in the quality, stability, and form of the organic byproducts used in the manufacturing of these media. This study was undertaken to determine appropriate irrigation set points for a sawdust–peat mix (SP) under development given that the performance of this substrate appeared to be strongly dependent on appropriate irrigation management. A greenhouse tomato experiment was conducted to compare different irrigation management approaches for a SP substrate in the spring and summer. Using preliminary measurements from an initial experiment (Expt. 1), different irrigation strategies for the SP substrate were compared in a second experiment (Expt. 2): 1) a variable irrigation regime using a timer control (with frequency adjusted as a function of irradiance); 2) tensiometer control at –1.5 kPa; and 3) two constant substrate water potential devices: –1.1 kPa and –0.9 kPa. An irrigation timer/controller using solar radiation input was used with a rockwool control (RC) substrate. Measurements of plant activity [photosynthesis rate and stomatal conductance (gS)], substrate physical and chemical properties, biomass, and yield were obtained. For all irrigation strategies, results indicated that 10% to 20% higher photosynthesis rates and gS values were obtained with the SP substrate compared with RC. Data indicated that moderate drying conditions (matric potential ranging from –2.2 kPa to –1.5 kPa in Expt. 1 and Expt. 2, respectively) relative to container capacity (–0.6 kPa) were beneficial for improving plant photosynthetic activity and allowed the highest yields for the SP substrate. Variable irrigation management showed higher levels of plant activity than constant watering and increased the oxygen concentration in the substrate by ≈2% in absolute value relative to the constant water potential device. Lower CO2 and N2O levels were also observed with the variable irrigation strategy. On the other hand, maximum nutrient solution savings were achieved with the constant matric potential devices (8% to 31% relative to the RC). This study showed high productivity potential for the SP substrate with suitable irrigation management. Replacing conventional growing media with organic waste-based products using an appropriate irrigation strategy may help to increase the sustainability of the greenhouse industry.

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CONCEPTS AND METHODOLOGY FOR FERTILIZER USE ECONOMY IN GREENHOUSE TOMATO PRODUCTION, IN CANADA

Acta Horticulturae ◽

10.17660/actahortic.1995.401.56 ◽

1995 ◽

pp. 461-472

Author(s):

A.P. Papadopoulos ◽

S. Khosla

Keyword(s):

Tomato Production ◽

Fertilizer Use ◽

Greenhouse Tomato

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Growth, photosynthesis and productivity of greenhouse tomato cultivated in open or closed rockwool systems

Canadian Journal of Plant Science ◽

10.4141/p01-113 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 82 (4) ◽

pp. 771-780 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

X. Hao ◽

A. P. Papadopoulos

Keyword(s):

Lycopersicon Esculentum ◽

Plant Biomass ◽

Alternative Methods ◽

Marketable Yield ◽

Tomato Production ◽

Greenhouse Tomato ◽

Tomato Yield ◽

Nutrient Film Technique ◽

Closed Systems ◽

Environmentally Sound

Two full spring season tomato crops (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. “Trust”) were grown in an open rockwool system with standard rockwool feeding formulae (O-R; conventional method), and in closed rockwool systems with standard rockwool (C-R) or Nutrient Film Technique (C-NFT) feeding formulae (modified in 1997) in 1996 and 1997 to examine the feasibility of a fully closed rockwool production system with appropriate feeding formulae. The closed rockwool system with optimized feeding formulae achieved high marketable yield, similar to that of the open rockwool system. There were no differences in early plant growth, plant biomass or biomass partitioning, and in total fruit yield, size and grades except for the closed rockwool system with the standard rockwool feeding formulae (C-R), which had lower yield than C-NFT in the last month of harvest in 1996. The photosynthesis of old foliage was higher and the root systems at the end of the experiments were rated healthier in plants grown in the closed (C-R and C-NFT) systems than in plants grown in the open (O-R) system. Over 30% of water and fertilizer was saved with the closed systems in comparison to the conventional open system. These results demonstrated that closed rockwool systems with optimized nutrient feedings are economically and environmentally sound alternative methods for greenhouse tomato production in Ontario. Key words: Lycopersicon esculentum, tomato, yield, recycling, rockwool, greenhouse

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A Comparison of Disinfectants to Prevent Spread of Potyviruses in Greenhouse Tomato Production

Plant Health Progress ◽

10.1094/php-2011-0221-01-rs ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 19 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

W. M. Wintermantel

Keyword(s):

Sodium Hypochlorite ◽

Quaternary Ammonium ◽

Infected Plant ◽

Transmission Efficiency ◽

Aphid Species ◽

Vegetable Crops ◽

Greenhouse Production ◽

Tomato Production ◽

Greenhouse Tomato ◽

Direct Inoculation

Potyviruses, transmitted by a diverse array of common aphid species, infect a broad range of vegetable crops, and can be problematic in greenhouse tomato production. Once introduced, these viruses are believed to be transmitted plant-to-plant during pruning operations, and can infect large sections of a greenhouse, resulting in significant losses in fruit quality and yield. Several methods are used for virus management in greenhouse production, including rouging of diseased plants and treatment of tools and facilities with virucides to eradicate the virus responsible. To clarify potyvirus transmission efficiency from an infected source during pruning operations, experiments were conducted using direct and serial mechanical inoculation of Potato virus Y (PVY) using a scalpel dipped in a suspension of PVY-infected plant sap. Tests demonstrated that both serial and direct inoculation resulted in significant PVY transmission, but that transmission rates declined after the first few plants in serial transmission. Additional tests evaluated the efficiency of two virucides, a quaternary ammonium solution and sodium hypochlorite, for virus inactivation during pruning operations using a range of concentrations and time points. Results demonstrated that 0.5% sodium hypochlorite treatment for two seconds was sufficient for virus control, and superior to treatment with quaternary ammonium solutions. Accepted for publication 20 December 2010. Published 21 February 2011.

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Greenhouse Tomato Producers’ Views on Soilless Agriculture in Antalya

Turkish Journal of Agriculture - Food Science and Technology ◽

10.24925/turjaf.v6i4.460-463.1764 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 (4) ◽

pp. 460

Author(s):

Bilge Gözener ◽

Halime Dereli

Keyword(s):

Food Industry ◽

Agricultural Land ◽

Raw Material ◽

Vegetable Production ◽

Material Source ◽

Greenhouse Production ◽

Tomato Production ◽

Greenhouse Tomato ◽

Tomato Paste ◽

Greenhouse Vegetable

Tomato comes as the most commonly produced, consumed and subject for trading in the world. Alongside fresh consumption, on the other hand it forms the most significant raw material source of food industry, especially for tomato paste, frozen and dried vegetable-fruit and canned food industry. Turkey's greenhouse vegetable production field for 2016 year is 675173 decars and Antalya forms 51% of this field. Tomato forms 61.72% of Antalya's greenhouse production. The main material of the research consists of interviews made with producers resided in 5 villages/towns, where greenhouse tomato production is carried out densely in Antalya city, Alanya district. In 48 villages and towns, greenhouse tomato production is carried out, according to the official records. In the chosen areas, 365 producers exist. 20% of these producers (73) form the sample size. In the research, it was determined that the producers' average agricultural land possession is 9.13 decars and in 40.53% of these areas they grew tomatoes. None of these producers are engaged in contractual growing. All of the yield is produced for the edible (as table-top item). After the harvest, all of the products are sold in the wholesales market in county and city. 7.89% of the producers have no information on soilless agriculture, as 10.52% of them think that it has no advantages and 73.36% of them recommend traditional agriculture.

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A Smart Irrigation Tool to Determine the Effects of ENSO on Water Requirements for Tomato Production in Mozambique

Water ◽

10.3390/w10121820 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (12) ◽

pp. 1820 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Eduardo Gelcer ◽

Clyde Fraisse ◽

Lincoln Zotarelli ◽

Daniel Perondi ◽

Hipólito Malia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

El Niño ◽

Water Demand ◽

El Nino ◽

Southern Oscillation ◽

Irrigation Management ◽

Irrigation Scheduling ◽

La Niña ◽

Water Requirements ◽

Tomato Production ◽

La Nina

Irrigation scheduling is used by growers to determine the right amount and timing of water application. In most parts of Mozambique, 90% of the total yearly precipitation occurs from November to March. The El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon influences the climate in Mozambique and affects the water demand for crop production. The objectives of this work were to quantify the effects of ENSO phenomenon on tomato crop water requirements, and to create the AgroClimate irrigation tool (http://mz.agroclimate.org/) to assist farmers in improving irrigation management. This study was based on daily grid-based climate information from 1983 to 2016 from the Climate Forecast System Reanalysis. Daily crop evapotranspiration was calculated by Hargreaves equation and crop coefficients. This tool is available online and considers different planting dates, ENSO phases, and crop growing season lengths. Irrigation needs varied from less than 250 mm per growing cycle during winter to 550 mm during spring. Both El Niño and La Niña influenced the irrigation scheduling, especially from November to March. El Niño periods were related to increased water demand due to drier and warmer conditions, while the opposite was observed for La Niña. The ENSO information might be used to understand climate variability and improve tomato irrigation scheduling in Mozambique.

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