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

Abstract

SOIL degradation, desertification, fresh water scarcity, as well as the widespread of soil-borne diseases and nematodes all have an impact on plant production and food security. These issues encourage the development of soil-alternative systems. The current study aims to compare between 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. The results show that soil cultivation was better than soilless culture for 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 of the studied measurements. 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 challenging-to-cultivate tomato plants can be successfully grown using the soilless culture technique with a medium consisting of peat moss and perlite.