Effect of compost and different nitrogen doses obtained from greenhouse plant wastes on the development of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum mill.) plants

In plant production, post-harvest plant waste is one of the major issues contributing to environmental pollution. To prevent this and make use of agricultural waste, composting all harvest residues from plant production represents an economical and environmentally friendly approach. This study investigated the effects of composting greenhouse plant wastes and using them with different doses of nitrogenous fertilizer on tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) plant development. For this purpose, plant wastes obtained after harvest from greenhouses where tomato production was carried out were composted. Five different applications (control (U1); 100% nitrogenous fertilizer, U2; 5% compost + 50% nitrogen, U3; 5% compost + 25% nitrogen, U4; 10% compost + 50% nitrogen, U5; 10% compost + 25% nitrogen) were applied to the relevant pots in tomato plants grown in greenhouse conditions. Plant development, chlorophyll, thermal imaging and mineral content in plants were examined and the effect of different applications was found to be statistically significant (p<0.05). Especially compared to the control, the best development was seen in U4. Accordingly, it was determined that there was a significant increase of 19% in plant height, 53% in plant fresh weight and 55% in plant dry weight. Again, when the element contents (Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and potassium (K)) in the plant were examined, the highest values were seen in U4 application and statistically significant differences were determined in all these parameters. These results indicate that compost derived from greenhouse plant waste can be effectively used as a nutrient source. The significant improvements in plant growth and nutrient uptake, especially when nitrogen fertilizer was reduced by half or three-quarters, highlight the potential of integrating organic amendments into balanced fertilization strategies. This approach enhances production efficiency and contributes significantly to environmental sustainability and economic savings by reducing waste and fertilizer use.