Effects of the Substrate on Tomato in Soilless Culture

Hydroponics culture have many advantages such as increased yield, health and uniform product, conservation of water and land , better protect , control of environmental pollution and reduce of workers for cultivation. So in recently years, usage of organic and inorganic substrates obtained more important for greenhouse owners and researchers. The aim of this study was Effects of culture substrate on tomato yield and fruit quality in soilless cultivation. This study has done in the greenhouse of Islamic azad university of khorasgan in iran. The treatments were date-palm peat 1(whithout fermentation period), date-palm peat2 (with three month fermentation period ), perlite, cocopeat + date-palm peat2(v/v=50%), cocopeat+date-palm peat 1(v/v/=50%), perlite +date-palm peat 2(v/v=50%), perlite +date-palm peat 1(v/v=50%), cocopeat +perlite. The experiment was conducted in a randomized design with 6 replications. Papadopolus formula used for nutrient solution during plant growth with fertigation method. As well as temperature, humidity and irrigation rate was constant for all treatments. Comparison of means showed that the media had not significant effect on fruit weigh, fruit number and stem length in all treatments. Minimum and maximum fruits of yield related to date-palm peat2+perlite treatment and perlite respectively. The maximum fresh weight of plant related to date-palm peat+ cocopeat treatment that had not any significant difference with date-palm peat 2+cocopeat treatment ,Palm Peat 2 + perlite and palmpeat1 treatments. Maximum total soluble solids related to date-palm peat2+perlie treatment that has significant difference with palm peat1 treatment but had not any significant difference with other treatments. Also media had not significant effect on titrable acidity and ascorbic acid. Maximum pH related to date-palm peat1+perlite treatment that had not any significant difference with other treatments. The results showed that date-palm peat is a appropriate media for soilless culture with suitable physical and chemical properties ,availability and low cost. Therefore it can be a new substrates that introduce for replacing with other media.