Comparison between Soil and Soilless Cultivation of Autumn Tomato Production under Spanish Net-House Conditions

Abstract

THE AIM of this study was to compare tomato production in soil and soilless systems during the autumn season under Spanish style net-house and study their effects on growth, fruit yield and fruit quality. Four different substrates of soilless system of peat moss + vermiculite (1:1) peat moss + perlite (1:1), perlite + vermiculite (1:1) and peat moss + vermiculite + perlite (1:1:1) were evaluated. Generally, the results showed that soil cultivation was better than soilless culture in plant growth and fruit yield. However, the substrate of peat moss + perlite was the best studied substrate. Cultivation in the soil did not significantly differ from the cultivation in the substrate of peat moss + perlite in plant height, leaves and flower numbers, early yield, fruits number and average fruit weight. The medium of peat moss + vermiculite + perlite had the lowest values. The chemical quality of the fruit (total soluble solids, acidity, and vitamin C) and its firmness weren't significantly affected by the soil alternatives compared to soil cultivation. It could be concluded that tomato plants that are challenging to cultivate in the soil have been successfully produced using the soilless culture technique with peat moss and perlite medium.