Effect of moisture stress and foliar application of Zargreen organic liquid fertilizer on tomato growth and yield

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Associated Prof. Department of Range and Watershed Management, Faculty of Agriculture, Fasa University, Fasa, Iran

2 Department of Soil Science, College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz

3 Innovation Center of Zarnam Educators Research Industrial Group, Alborz Province, Hashtgerd City Iran.

4 Department of Soil Science, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

The present research was conducted to investigate the effect of foliar application of Zargreen organic liquid fertilizer on the growth and chemical composition of tomatoes under drought stress in greenhouse conditions in the Faculty of Agriculture of Shiraz University on May 2022. Treatments consisted of four levels of foliar application of Zargreen amino acid fertilizer (with concentrations of 0, 2.5, 5, and 7.5 L/1000L), and three soil moisture levels (field capacity (without stress), 75 and 50% of field capacity, FC). During the growing season three times; 1.5 months (at the end of vegetative growth and beginning of flowering), 2.5 months (at the stage of fruit development), and 3 months (at the stage of fruit ripening) after planting, Zargreen organic liquid fertilizer solutions were used with the mentioned concentrations for foliar spraying. The interaction effect of Zargreen organic fertilizer and moisture levels showed that the highest greenness index was observed with the highest level of soil moisture stress and the highest level of applied organic fertilizer. Application of 2.5, 5, and 7.5 L/1000L of Zargeen fertilizer increased the mean value of plant height by 8, 9, and 14%, respectively, compared to the control. The lowest shoot fresh weight was obtained without application of the organic fertilizer at the highest level of applied moisture stress. While at the same stress level, the highest shoot fresh weight was observed with the addition of 7.5 L/1000L of the organic fertilizer. The highest shoot zinc and copper concentrations were obtained in the plants grown at the highest moisture stress and the highest level of organic fertilizer application. It can be concluded that adding organic compounds improves the plant's tolerance to environmental stresses by modifying the physiological processes of the plant.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Effect of moisture stress and foliar application of Zargreen organic liquid fertilizer on tomato growth and yield

EXTENDED ABSTRACT

Introduction

One of the basic limitations of plant growth is abiotic environmental stress, especially moisture stress, which is known worldwide as an important challenge in the field of production and development of products. Tomato is sensitive to water stress and achieving a product with good quality requires finding a way with the least environmental damage and the most yield. Organic agriculture is looking for ways to intensify the ecological processes responsible for plant nutrition while preserving soil and water resources. The present research was conducted in order to investigate the effect of foliar spraying of organic modifier with the brand name Zargreen liquid fertilizer on the growth characteristics, yield and concentration of nutrients in the aerial parts of tomato plants under moisture stress.

 

Material and Methods

A Factorial experiment was conducted in completely randomized design with three replications in greenhouse conditions in the Faculty of Agriculture of Shiraz University on May 2022. Treatments consisted of four levels of foliar application of Zargreen organic liquid fertilizer (with concentrations of 0, 2.5, 5, and 7.5 L/1000L) and three soil moisture levels (field capacity (without stress), 75 and 50% of field capacity, FC). Foliar application of treatments was used out at 1.5 months (at the end of vegetative growth and beginning of flowering), 2.5 months (at the stage of fruit development), and 3 months (at the stage of fruit ripening) after planting. During the growing season, the amount of water consumed was measured. Two weeks after the last stage of foliar application, the greenness index and before harvesting the height of the plant, and after harvesting, the fresh and dry weight of shoot were measured and shoot nutrient concentrations were determined. Data analysis was done using EXCEL ver. 2016 software and averages were compared with the Duncan's test at probability level of 5% using MSTATC software packages.

 

Results and Discussion

The interaction effect of Zargreen organic fertilizer and moisture stress showed that the most leaf chlorophyll was observed in the treatment with the highest level of moisture stress and the highest level of receiving organic fertilizer. Application of levels of 2.5, 5 and 7.5 liters per thousand liters of Zargeen fertilizer increased the height of the plant by 8, 9 and 14%, respectively, compared to the control. The lowest fresh weight of shoots was obtained in the treatment without organic fertilizer with the highest level of moisture stress, while at the same stress level, the highest fresh weight was observed with the addition of 7.5 liters per thousand organic fertilizers. The highest concentration of zinc and copper in shoots was obtained in the plants with the highest moisture stress and the highest levels of organic fertilizer.

 

Conclusion

Considering the arid and semi-arid climatic conditions of Iran and the lack of water resources, in order to increase the productivity of agricultural production and also protect the environment, the use of compounds of organic origin will play an important role in supplying the plants required nutrients. The results showed that shoot fresh and dry weights of tomato increased at the highest level of moisture stress after adding the highest level of organic fertilizer. The shoot zinc and copper concentrations increased at the highest level of moisture stress due to the application of a high level of fertilizer. In other words, the presence of organic compounds in these conditions has prevented the reduction of plant yield. Similar results were obtained for greenness index and plant height. Therefore, in general and according to the positive effects of applied organic fertilizer in reducing and mitigating the negative effects of drought stress on plant growth and yield, the studied fertilizer can be used to improve plant growth and yield  and optimal agricultural management, especially in moisture stress conditions. The fertilizer may increase soil organic matter and improve various soil properties and soil microbial community as well as reduce the negative effects of moisture stress on the plant growth and yield.

 

 

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Iranian Journal of Soil and Water Research
Volume 54, Issue 9
December 2023
Pages 1363-1379

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