N-immobilization of wood fiber substrates in the production of tomato transplants (Lycopersicon lycopersicum (L.) Karst. ex Farw.)

Citation
N. Gruda et al., N-immobilization of wood fiber substrates in the production of tomato transplants (Lycopersicon lycopersicum (L.) Karst. ex Farw.), J APPL BOT, 74(1-2), 2000, pp. 32-37
Citations number
39
Categorie Soggetti
Plant Sciences
Journal title
JOURNAL OF APPLIED BOTANY-ANGEWANDTE BOTANIK
ISSN journal
09495460 → ACNP
Volume
74
Issue
1-2
Year of publication
2000
Pages
32 - 37
Database
ISI
SICI code
0949-5460(200004)74:1-2<32:NOWFSI>2.0.ZU;2-4
Abstract
N-immobilization of wood fiber substrates during production of vegetable tr ansplants was studied in greenhouse and under phytotron conditions. Tomato transplants were grown on white peat, unimpregnated and impregnated wood fiber with three N-levels respectively N-immobilization was calculated on the basis of N-balance including N-uptake by plants and residual minera l N in the substrates. in addition, the influence on net photosynthesis rat e was examined. Higher N-immobilization was found by increasing of N-application rates. Net -N-immobilization in impregnated wood fiber substrates was comparable to wh ite peat with 100 mg N l(-1). Tomato transplants, cultivated on impregnated wood fiber substrates, showed significantly higher growth compared to plan ts cultivated in unimpregnated wood fibers. With additional N-fertilization (level N3) the significance of N-immobiliza tion in impregnated wood fiber substrates for the growth of tomato plants c ould be neglected. However, general recommendations for the amount of ferti lizer to be added are difficult, because of strongly varying contents of mi neral nutrients in the different substrate loads. Nevertheless, it is neces sary to supply wood fiber substrates with nutrient solutions or fertilizer from the beginning of plant culture. Substrates without plants, exposed to the same conditions showed the same t endencies in N-immobilization, as substrates with plants.