The effect of basaltic tuff, andesitic tuff and torf on yield and quality of tomato under greenhouse conditions

This study was conducted in the years 2000-2002, in order to determine the effects of different organic and inorganic soilless substrates in Turkey on tomatoes produced in greenhouse environments in terms of yield, earliness and quality parameters. In the experiment, four different substrates (basaltic and andesitic tuff, torf and natural soil) and their mixture in different amounts were used as the growth media. In the study, the yield of the tomato plant grown in these five different substrates and seasonal distribution of the yield, quality parameters (the weight and size of product) and growing characteristics (root diameter, the size and weight of plant) were investigated. Furthermore, the plants' content of N, P, K, Fe, Mn and Zn were determined by analyzing the leafs taken from the plants at regular intervals. The results of experiment showed that substrates materials available in Turkey can be used as soilless growing medias. The highest yield was obtained as 31.2 kg m"2 in the mixture of the substrates. On the other hand, the lowest yield was obtained as 20.7 kg m" 2 in the soil variant. The analysis of the values obtained revealed that basaltic tuff and the mixture of substrates variants brought about a significant amount of earliness. The analysis of the variants in relation to quality parameters indicated that more quality, bigger in size, and homogenous fruits were obtained in the substrates mixture variant. The results of the leaf analysis during the production season revealed that all of the growth medias available in Turkey yielded better results than the soil and the best results were obtained in substrates mixture, basaltic tuff, torf, andesitic tuff and soil, respectively. Key Words : Soilles culture, basaltic tuff, andesitic tuff, torf