Browsing by Subject "jakojuuriviljely"

The aim of this research was to find out how split-root fertigation affects the tield and quality of greenhouse tomato grown under modern greenhouse conditions. The aim was to find out if split-root fertigation produces bigger and better quality crop than traditional fertigation. In addition water use efficiency was compared between the split-root and traditional fertigation approaches. The study was conducted at MTT Agrifood Research Finland (Piikkiö) during 3.4.- 24.11.2009 in greenhouse. In split-root fertigation approach the roots of the tomato plants were divided into two comparments where the other compartment was fertigated with low electrical conductivity (EC) solution and the other on with concentrated EC solution. In traditional fertigation treatment the roots were also divided into two compartments but both parts were fertigated with solutions of equal EC. In split-root fertigation plant is able to take water from dilute solution and nutrients from concentrated solution. High EC can inrcease tomatos quality but decrease yield. Split-root fertigation enables use of high EC and low EC solutions to achieve the best quality tomatoes and most yield. During the cultivation period, the EC values of the nutrient solutions were maintained in their target values for almost all the time. The traditional fertigation approach produced more marketable yield and first class yield in number of fruits per plant than the split-root approach. The differences in the two approaches were statistically significant. One of the most factors that decreased the volume of marketable yield by was blossom-end rot. Water use efficiency was calculated by dividing the marketable yield by the volume of the water used during growth season. The split-root fertigation approach produced 164 g/l and the traditional fertigation 171 g/l of fruits per used litre of water. However, the difference was not statistically significant. Further research on split-root fertigation is needed. Based on the literature it the concentrated compartment in the split-root fertigation system may induce drought stress signals, which eventually reduc optimal production.