Effects of zeolite on seedling quality and nutrient contents of tomato plant (Solanum lycopersicon cv. Malike F1) grown in different mixtures of growing media

SÖNMEZ İ., KAPLAN M., DEMİR H., Yılmaz E.

JOURNAL OF FOOD AGRICULTURE & ENVIRONMENT, vol.8, no.2, pp.1162-1165, 2010 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 8 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2010
  • Journal Name: JOURNAL OF FOOD AGRICULTURE & ENVIRONMENT
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.1162-1165
  • Keywords: Seedling, zeolite, perlite, turf, germination, tomato, NATURAL ZEOLITE, CLINOPTILOLITE
  • Akdeniz University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

In this study, the effects of zeolite utilization with the mixture of different growing media on the seedling quality and nutrient contents of tomato (Solarium lycopersicon cv. Malike F1) were determined under the greenhouse conditions. For this purpose, natural zeolite, perlite, turf and their different mixture forms were used as growing media for growing of tomato seedlings. Effects of these substances on the seed germination, seedling height, stem diameter, seedling fresh weight and N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu contents were studied. As a result of this study, the effects of growing media on the seedling quality parameters except for stem diameter were found to be significant and the best results were generally obtained from turf + zeolite mixtures. The nutrient contents of seedlings showed significant differences (p<0.001). Therefore, it was determined that turf + zeolite mixtures could be used as alternative media instead of turf + perlite mixtures.