Substrate Culture of Tomatoes Using Processed Liquid Cattle Manure

Abstract

The present study was conducted to clarify the effects of 4 successive applications of processed liquid cattle manure (PLCM) on the growth and yield of tomatoes in sand and soil cultures using isolated beds (spring 2000, fall 2000, spring 2001 and fall 2001 in experiments 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively). Treatment solutions consisted of 1) Control (commercial nutrient solutions), 2) PLCM with KH₂PO₄, and 3) PLCM with macronutrients. In experiments 3 and 4, PLCM diluted with tap water was applied to soil as an additional treatment. Plant growth was less at the PLCM treatments compared to the control, and marketable fruit yield at the PLCM treatments was reduced to about 70%, on average, of the control in all experiments. The EC and Cl and K concentration of PLCM were extremely high. The reduction of plant growth and fruit yields might be caused by salinity stress. Ca concentration in leaves was lower at the PLCM compared to the control. The higher incidence of blossom-end rotted fruit at the PLCM treatments might be induced by the lower uptake of Ca. There was no salt accumulation in sand and soil or successive cropping injury observed during the experiment. It was suggested that PLCM could be useful in drip fertigation in soil culture because of the soil buffering capacity.