Effects of zinc fertilizers on growth and yield of cherry tomato ‘CH154’
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Abstract
Background and Objective: Cherry tomatoes, commonly grown in soilless systems, often face micronutrient deficiencies, which can lead to a reduction in both the quantity and quality of the yield. This study aimed to compare types of zinc fertilizer and ways to apply to the growth and yield of cherry tomato.
Methodology: The experiment was conducted on cherry tomatoes grown using a hydroponics system consisting of 6 treatments: control grown in nutrient solution containing zinc, control grown in nutrient solution without zinc, nutrient solution fertilized with Zn-EDTA or ZnSO4 by foliar spray at a concentration of 250 ppm or root at a concentration of 50 ppm application twice when the tomatoes were 40 and 47 days old after sowing. Data were recorded weekly when the cherry tomato plants were 40 days old after sowing, and yield data were recorded after harvest.
Main Results: The application of both types of zinc fertilizers via foliar spray or root application tended to increase the number of flowers. Zn-EDTA fertilizers increased fruit number per plant and fruit weight per plant more than ZnSO4 fertilizers by 12–89% and 11–55%, respectively. Both zinc fertilizers helped to recover tomato plants from zinc deficiency. Root application of zinc fertilizers resulted in lower zinc accumulation in the leaves compared to foliar application, which helps reduce the risk of zinc toxicity from excessive accumulation. However, both types of Zn fertilizers did not affect stem height, leaf greenness index, total soluble solids in fruit, and dry weight of shoot and root.
Conclusions: Foliar or root application of zinc fertilizers Zn-EDTA or ZnSO4 can increase the yield of cherry tomatoes grown under zinc deficiency conditions. However,the root application is recommended to minimize zinc accumulation and the risk of toxicity in plants.
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