The effect of different fertigation strategies on salinity and nutrient dynamics of cherry tomato grown in a gutter subirrigation system

Venezia, A.; Colla, G.; Cesare, Carlo Di; Stipic, M.; Massa, Daniele

doi:10.1016/j.agwat.2021.107408

Cited by 7 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 28 publications

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“…In open irrigation systems, fertilizer salts not absorbed by the plants do not accumulate in the substrate due to the high lixiviation rate; however, this system has a very high environmental and economic cost, as the nutrients and water are frequently allowed to drain and accumulate in the surrounding environment [10,11]. In contrast, in closed-loop sub-irrigation systems, non-absorbed fertilizer salts accumulate in the upper portion of the root ball, where fewer roots are located [12]; the reduced lixiviation in this system results in accumulation of the excess of fertilizers and non-absorbed salts in the upper portion of the substrate which eventually may raise the electrical conductivity (EC) of the substrate [4,[13][14][15] and negatively affect plant growth and yield. For example, in sub-irrigated tomatoes, the EC in the top layer of the substrate has been reported to be as high as 15.5 dS m −1 at the end of the growing season [16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutrient Solution Electrical Conductivity Affects Yield and Growth of Sub-Irrigated Tomatoes

et al. 2023

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Sub-irrigation of greenhouse crops has the potential to increase water and nutrient use efficiency; however, fertilizer salts that are not absorbed by the plants tend to accumulate in the substrate and eventually raise the substrate’s electrical conductivity (EC). The objective of this study was to determine the optimum EC of the nutrient solution in sub-irrigated tomatoes to allow maximum yield. Total fruit yield was higher in sub-irrigated plants with solutions at 2.0 dS m−1 (5105 g per plant), and it was comparable to that obtained for drip-irrigated plants (4903 g per plant); however, the yield of fruits from the second truss was 37% higher in sub-irrigated than in drip-irrigated plants when the EC was 2.0 dS m−1. In contrast, at the end of the growing season, the yield of plants sub-irrigated with nutrient solutions of 2.0 dS m−1 was the lowest, being surpassed by 37% by that of plants treated with 1.4 dS m−1. The dry weight of vegetative plant parts was reduced in sub-irrigated plants, suggesting a shift in dry mass partitioning. Our results show that with sub-irrigation, the growing season should be started using nutrient solutions with higher EC, but eventually, this EC should be decreased to maintain proper substrate EC and high yield.

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