M. Arienzo et al., FERTILIZATION VIA CARBONATED WATER AND MINERAL CONCENTRATIONS IN A TOMATO CROP, Communications in soil science and plant analysis, 24(17-18), 1993, pp. 2281-2291
In our experiments, application of carbonated water (CW) modified the
nutritional status of a field-grown tomato crop. Fruit concentrations
of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), and manganese (Mn) were initiall
y increased by CW, after which they were similar to the controls (Zn a
nd Mn) or lower (Cu and Fe). Leaf concentrations of the same group of
elements were also increased in the later growth stages. Calcium (Ca)
and magnesium (Mg) in the earlier stages showed diminished concentrati
ons in all plant parts in response to CW treatment; later on, a slight
ly higher Ca content was found in the fruit and lower in the leaves, w
hile the fruit Mg content was decreased. Higher cation contents were f
ound in the plant in response to the higher irrigation frequency and i
nteraction with CW effect was detected in most of the cases. In the fi
rst period, leaf and fruit contents of all elements, except for Mg in
the fruit were increased by daily irrigation. In the second one, leaf
content of all nutrients was also increased; the fruit content of Mg,
Ca and Zn was increased, while that of Cu, Fe, and Mn was decreased.