Effect of the Limited Supply of Nitrate and Phosphate on Nutrient Uptake and Fruit Production of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) in Hydroponic Culture

Abstract

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv Momotaro) were cultured with a limited supply of nitrate and phosphate in DFT culture system. Experiments were carried out during the spring to summer season and autumn to winter season in a greenhouse. During the spring to summer season almost all of the nitrate and phosphate supplied at a rate of 50 me·plant⁻¹·week⁻¹ and 20 me·plant⁻¹·week⁻¹, respectively was absorbed. Fruit weight was 3.5 kg·plant⁻¹. Occurrences of blossom end rot, malformed and puffy were limited. During the autumn to winter season, nitrate was absorbed at a rate of 35 me·plant⁻¹·week⁻¹ regardless of the nitrate amount supplied, and phosphate was absorbed at a rate of 16 me·plant⁻¹·week⁻¹. Fruit weight was 2.5 kg·plant⁻¹. About 25 % of fruit were puffy.
From this experiment, it was shown that tomatoes can be cultured with a limited supply of nitrate and phosphate.