Substrate types and combinations for tomato seedling production

Abstract

Mixtures were evaluated from natural raw materials in different proportions and in the following order: coconut fiber (Cocos nucifera), melina sawdust (Gmelina arborea) and Coope Victoria compost, for use as substrate for tomato seedlings hybrid FBM-17. Mixtures were made of coconut fiber and melina sawdust in different proportions (30%, 40% and 50% of each material), for a total of 9 treatments; the compost was added to complete 100%. Variables assessed were germination percentage at 7 days after sowing (das) and transplantable plants percentage at the 27 das in each useful plot. Also, in ten randomly selected seedlings within each useful plot (the 27 das) were evaluated: seedling height, stem thickness, root dry weight, aerial part dry weight, rate root/aerial part and adobe quality. Of all the treatments, the highest values for the variables evaluated were obtained in the three treatments where melina sawdust proportion was 30%, along with treatment of 40% coconut fiber + 40% melina sawdust + 20% compost Coope Victoria; among them, the substrate which tended to give better results in all variables was the 30-30-40 mix. The lowest values for the variables evaluated were obtained in the treatment where was not included compost in the mix (50-50-0), except for the variables germination percentage and ratehip root/aerial part. The inclusion of compost in the mixture of the substrate favored obtaining satisfactory values.