Combined application of soluble organic and chemical fertilizers in drip fertigation improves nitrogen use efficiency and enhances tomato yield and quality

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Sustainable greenhouse tomato production requires optimal fertilizer management to achieve the double-win strategy of producing high yields and maximizing profits with less environmental pollution. The objective of this study was to seek an optimal fertilization strategy maintaining high productivity of greenhouse tomato, improving nitrogen use efficiency and reducing nitrate leaching risk. RESULTS: Thecombinedapplicationofsolubleorganicandchemicalfertilizersfortopdressing(SOSC)notonlyproducedmorefruityield (75.18 Mg ha −1) and plant dry matter (10 449.12 kg ha −1), but also enhanced plant nutrients uptake, nitrogen recovery efficiency (39.22%), nitrogen agronomic efficiency (176.78 kg kg −1), soluble solids, vitamin C and lycopene content in tomato fruits compared with the other treatments, that is chicken manures for basal application and chemical fertilizer for topdressing (CC), soluble organic fertilizer for topdressing (SO) and soluble chemical fertilizer for topdressing (SC). In terms of soil nutrients residue, SOSC had no obvious NO 3 −-N accumulation area in the 0-60 cm soil layer, unlike large accumulation in the soil layer below 30 cm in SO and SC. CONCLUSION: The combined application of soluble organic and chemical fertilizers is highly recommended to sustain fruit yield, improve nitrogen use efficiency and reduce soil degradation risks in commercial greenhouse tomato production.

Optimizing Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Growth With Different Combinations of Organo-Mineral Fertilizers

“…The highest fruit yield of tomato in the current work was also recorded from the combined application of neem seed cake + compost with inorganic fertilizers in both years (91 to 35%). These results affirmed the finding of Wu et al (2020) and Ayeni and Ezeh (2017) that the combination of organic and inorganic fertilizers has a positive effect on tomato productivity. The combination not only improves the organic status of soil but also increases inorganic fertilizer use efficiency.…”

“…Extensive use of inorganic fertilizer has a depressing effect on yield, by causing a reduction in number of fruits, and delays and reduces fruit setting, which consequently delays ripening and leads to heavy vegetative growth (Aliyu et al, 2003). Many other authors (Ayeni and Ezeh, 2017;Islam et al, 2017;Wu et al, 2020) mentioned the positive effect of the combination of organo-mineral fertilizers on tomato productivity. Also, the beneficial effect of combined organic manure with bio-fertilizer on availability of nutrients was reported by Fernandes and Bhalerao (2015) and Youssef and Eissa (2017).…”

Biochemical constituents indicate carbon mineralization under a long‐term integrated nutrient‐supplied Typic Kandiustalf

“…Higher rates were observed in stubble with the highest rate of CO 2 evolution in the treatment T 5 with 58.48 mg CO 2 g -1 C, followed by T 4 with 56.39 mg CO 2 g -1 C, T 8 with 55.98 mg CO 2 g -1 C, and the lowest in control with 51.69 mg CO 2 g -1 C (Figure 4). A higher C mineralization due to NPK fertilizers along with FYM is attributable to the proper supplementation of labile organic C compounds in the integrated treatments (Datta et al, 2015;Kong et al, 2011;Majumder et al, 2008;Mwafulirva et al, 2019;Rudrappa et al, 2006;Wu et al, 2020). These findings are as per the findings of Nayaka et al (2012), who reported that continuous application of NPK along with organic amendment significantly increased the C mineralization under longterm fertilizer experiments (LTFE) in four different locations in the Indo-Gangetic Plains.…”

Organic fertigation system in saline‐sodic soils: A new paradigm for the restoration of soil health

“…Y. Wu et al. (2020) applied a combination of soluble organic and inorganic fertilizers for improving NUE and reducing soil degradation under a greenhouse tomato.…”