Changes in Germination and Primarily Growth of Three Cultivars of Tomato Under Diatomite and Soil Materials in Auto-Irrigation System

Abstract

In order to evaluate the effects of different materials on germination and growth of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) cultivars under negative pressure hydraulic auto-irrigation systems, an experiment was conducted in National Engineering Research Center for Intelligent Agricultural Equipments, Beijing, China. Three cultivars of tomato (Jiafen No-18, Jiahong No-5, and Jiahong No-4) as main plots, and three materials, including: 100% soil, 50% diatomite + 50% soil, and 100% diatomite as sub plots, were evaluated in a split plot based on randomized complete block design with three replications in a green house. Cultivar effect was significant on total germination percentage, speed of germination, radicle length, coleoptiles length, fresh leaf weight and fresh coleoptiles weight were significance. The influence of material on total germination percentage, speed of germination, mean germination time, coefficient of velocity germination, radicle length, coleoptiles length and fresh leaf weight were meaningful. The highest total germination percentage (74.99%), coefficient of velocity germination (0.57), coleoptile length (6.00 cm), fresh leaf weight (0.31 g), fresh coleoptile weight (0.30 g), dry leaf weight (0.019 g) and dry coleoptile weight (0.017 g) was observed in Jiafen No-18. However, Jiahong No. 4 had the maximum speed of germination. While maximum values of total germination percentage, speed of germination, mean germination time was related to 100% soil. Application of 50% soil + 50% diatomite obtained the highest radicle length, coleoptile length, fresh leaf weight, fresh coleoptile length and dry leaf weight. It seems that application of 50% soil + 50% diatomite, and Jiafen No. 18 is appropriate under the negative pressure hydraulic auto-irrigation system.