TY - JOUR
T1 - Effect of potassium magnesium chloride in the fertigation solution as partial source of potassium on growth, yield and quality of greenhouse tomato
AU - Chapagain, Bishnu P.
AU - Wiesman, Zeev
PY - 2004/2/27
Y1 - 2004/2/27
N2 - The effect of partial replacement of KCl in the fertigation by KCl·MgCl2 on growth, yield and quality of greenhouse tomato (cv. Durinta) was studied in a soil-less system. Forty-seven days after planting (DAP), three treatment solutions were applied to the plants using different K sources: (1) KNO3, (2) KCl, and (3) KCl·MgCl 2+KCl (25%:75% in terms of K supplied). In both treatments 2 and 3, NH4NO3, Ca(NO3)2 and HNO 3 were added as source of N. Plant height and total chlorophyll were the highest in the KCl+KCl·MgCl2 treatment. Leaf Mg content was significantly lower in the KCl treatment, whereas highest in the KCl+KCl·MgCl2 treatment. Both KCl and KCl+KCl·MgCl 2 led to a significantly higher leaf Cl content as compared with the KNO3 treatment, but no Cl toxicity was observed in either treatment. Total yield was not different among treatments. Fruit firmness and freshness of the calyx were significantly improved by KCl and KCl+KCl·MgCl 2, and the number of rotten and blotchy fruits were significantly reduced by both these treatments. KCl+KCl·MgCl2 also led to significantly higher levels of glucose, Mg and dry matter content in the fruit. Lower NO3 and higher Fe contents were measured in both treatments 2 and 3. Although KCl as sole K source showed lower foliar Mg level as compared to KNO3, the use of the KCl in tomato fertigation improved tomato fruit appearance and qualities. However, 25% replacement of KCl by KCl+KCl·MgCl2 increased the foliar Mg level and improved fruit qualities even further.
AB - The effect of partial replacement of KCl in the fertigation by KCl·MgCl2 on growth, yield and quality of greenhouse tomato (cv. Durinta) was studied in a soil-less system. Forty-seven days after planting (DAP), three treatment solutions were applied to the plants using different K sources: (1) KNO3, (2) KCl, and (3) KCl·MgCl 2+KCl (25%:75% in terms of K supplied). In both treatments 2 and 3, NH4NO3, Ca(NO3)2 and HNO 3 were added as source of N. Plant height and total chlorophyll were the highest in the KCl+KCl·MgCl2 treatment. Leaf Mg content was significantly lower in the KCl treatment, whereas highest in the KCl+KCl·MgCl2 treatment. Both KCl and KCl+KCl·MgCl 2 led to a significantly higher leaf Cl content as compared with the KNO3 treatment, but no Cl toxicity was observed in either treatment. Total yield was not different among treatments. Fruit firmness and freshness of the calyx were significantly improved by KCl and KCl+KCl·MgCl 2, and the number of rotten and blotchy fruits were significantly reduced by both these treatments. KCl+KCl·MgCl2 also led to significantly higher levels of glucose, Mg and dry matter content in the fruit. Lower NO3 and higher Fe contents were measured in both treatments 2 and 3. Although KCl as sole K source showed lower foliar Mg level as compared to KNO3, the use of the KCl in tomato fertigation improved tomato fruit appearance and qualities. However, 25% replacement of KCl by KCl+KCl·MgCl2 increased the foliar Mg level and improved fruit qualities even further.
KW - Fertigation
KW - Fruit quality
KW - Potassium magnesium chloride
KW - Potassium nitrate
KW - Tomato
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0842306434&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S0304-4238(03)00109-2
DO - 10.1016/S0304-4238(03)00109-2
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0842306434
SN - 0304-4238
VL - 99
SP - 279
EP - 288
JO - Scientia Horticulturae
JF - Scientia Horticulturae
IS - 3-4
ER -