Effect of calcium nitrate and substrates on tomato yield

Abstract

The tomato is a vegetable of high consumption globally, reason why, various researches are performed to allow optimum production in greenhouses with efficient use of available local resources as well as low cost of inert materials with characteristics such as drainage and sufficient aeration for the roots; the latter to ensure nutrient absorption, survival and optimum development of plants. In a greenhouse located in Nazareth, Xoxocotlán, Oaxaca, in 2011 was evaluated the yield and quality of three hybrids of tomato (Anibal, Cid and Sun 7705) in two substrates (sand and soil), irrigated with Steiner universal nutrient solution with variation of calcium nitrate Ca (NO3)2.4H2O in six levels (0.35, 1.06, 1.41, 1.77, 2.12 and 2.47 g L-1). The interaction of previous levels resulted in 36 treatments; these were established in completely randomized design with ten replicates. The nutrient solution with 1.06 g L-1 (12 me L-1 of NO3- and 9 I L-1 Ca2+) had significant effects higher in fruit yield of hybrid Anibal established in the soil substrate (3726 g plant-1 ) and in weight (96.4 g), volume (97.2 mL) and polar diameter (6.4 cm) of fruits of plants independently of hybrids and substrate. It was also noted that plants which was applied nutrient solution doses superior to these, showed decreasing values in yield and in fruit quality.