Parameters of Drainage Waters Collected during Soilless Tomato Cultivation in Mineral and Organic Substrates
The aim was to determine the suitability of various substrates for application in a closed system of soilless tomato cultivation, based on the potential fitness of drainage waters from these substrates for recirculation. Four substrates were used: rockwool, coir substrate, lignite substrate (Carboma...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-12-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/12/2009 |
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| author | Jacek Dyśko Magdalena Szczech Stanisław Kaniszewski Waldemar Kowalczyk |
| author_facet | Jacek Dyśko Magdalena Szczech Stanisław Kaniszewski Waldemar Kowalczyk |
| author_sort | Jacek Dyśko |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The aim was to determine the suitability of various substrates for application in a closed system of soilless tomato cultivation, based on the potential fitness of drainage waters from these substrates for recirculation. Four substrates were used: rockwool, coir substrate, lignite substrate (Carbomat) and biodegradable organic substrate (Biopot). Tomato plants grown in these substrates were fertilized with the same amount of nutrient solution, containing the same concentration of nutrients. The characteristics of drainage water from these substrates were analyzed during cultivation. The highest amount of drainage water was collected from the lignite substrate Carbomat. However, these leachates showed good properties for further recirculation: low electro conductivity and turbidity, high nutrient content, moderate microbial load with high population of <i>Trichoderma</i> fungi, and being beneficial for plant growth. Moreover, Carbomat produced the highest tomato yield compared to other substrates. This indicates that this organic substrate is an efficient alternative to rockwool and its drainage water may be reused in a recirculation system. On the contrary, the drainage water from the Biopot substrate showed the worst qualities: high pH and low EC, low concentration of nitrate nitrogen and phosphorus, very high turbidity and a high number of microorganisms. These parameters do not qualify Biopot drainage waters for reuse. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:54:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-35798bca545049248c583b008b1b3a2f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:54:03Z |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-35798bca545049248c583b008b1b3a2f2023-11-21T01:46:31ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952020-12-011012200910.3390/agronomy10122009Parameters of Drainage Waters Collected during Soilless Tomato Cultivation in Mineral and Organic SubstratesJacek Dyśko0Magdalena Szczech1Stanisław Kaniszewski2Waldemar Kowalczyk3Department of Cultivation and Fertilization of Horticultural Crops, Research Institute of Horticulture, Konstytucji 3 Maja 1/3, 96-100 Skierniewice, PolandDepartment of Microbiology and Rhizosphere, Research Institute of Horticulture, Konstytucji 3 Maja 1/3, 96-100 Skierniewice, PolandDepartment of Cultivation and Fertilization of Horticultural Crops, Research Institute of Horticulture, Konstytucji 3 Maja 1/3, 96-100 Skierniewice, PolandDepartment of Cultivation and Fertilization of Horticultural Crops, Research Institute of Horticulture, Konstytucji 3 Maja 1/3, 96-100 Skierniewice, PolandThe aim was to determine the suitability of various substrates for application in a closed system of soilless tomato cultivation, based on the potential fitness of drainage waters from these substrates for recirculation. Four substrates were used: rockwool, coir substrate, lignite substrate (Carbomat) and biodegradable organic substrate (Biopot). Tomato plants grown in these substrates were fertilized with the same amount of nutrient solution, containing the same concentration of nutrients. The characteristics of drainage water from these substrates were analyzed during cultivation. The highest amount of drainage water was collected from the lignite substrate Carbomat. However, these leachates showed good properties for further recirculation: low electro conductivity and turbidity, high nutrient content, moderate microbial load with high population of <i>Trichoderma</i> fungi, and being beneficial for plant growth. Moreover, Carbomat produced the highest tomato yield compared to other substrates. This indicates that this organic substrate is an efficient alternative to rockwool and its drainage water may be reused in a recirculation system. On the contrary, the drainage water from the Biopot substrate showed the worst qualities: high pH and low EC, low concentration of nitrate nitrogen and phosphorus, very high turbidity and a high number of microorganisms. These parameters do not qualify Biopot drainage waters for reuse.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/12/2009soilless substratesnutrient concentrationphysical propertiesmicroorganisms |
| spellingShingle | Jacek Dyśko Magdalena Szczech Stanisław Kaniszewski Waldemar Kowalczyk Parameters of Drainage Waters Collected during Soilless Tomato Cultivation in Mineral and Organic Substrates Agronomy soilless substrates nutrient concentration physical properties microorganisms |
| title | Parameters of Drainage Waters Collected during Soilless Tomato Cultivation in Mineral and Organic Substrates |
| title_full | Parameters of Drainage Waters Collected during Soilless Tomato Cultivation in Mineral and Organic Substrates |
| title_fullStr | Parameters of Drainage Waters Collected during Soilless Tomato Cultivation in Mineral and Organic Substrates |
| title_full_unstemmed | Parameters of Drainage Waters Collected during Soilless Tomato Cultivation in Mineral and Organic Substrates |
| title_short | Parameters of Drainage Waters Collected during Soilless Tomato Cultivation in Mineral and Organic Substrates |
| title_sort | parameters of drainage waters collected during soilless tomato cultivation in mineral and organic substrates |
| topic | soilless substrates nutrient concentration physical properties microorganisms |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/12/2009 |
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