Open AccessSilicon increases the production and quality of cherry tomato under different electrical conductivity levels
Author(s) -
Rejane Meyson Vieira de Sousa,
Aldelan Arnaldo Silva,
Giselle Mendes Fonseca,
Jenilton Gomes da Cunha,
Julian Junio de Jesús Lacerda,
Wilon Pinheiro Guimarães,
Gabriel Barbosa da Silva Júnior,
Regiana dos Santos Moura,
Everaldo Moreira da Silva
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
semina. ciências agrárias
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1679-0359
pISSN - 1676-546X
DOI - 10.5433/1679-0359.2022v43n3p1297
Subject(s) - titratable acid , fertigation , randomized block design , shoot , horticulture , biomass (ecology) , salinity , irrigation , drip irrigation , chemistry , agronomy , biology , ecology
The addition of high nutrient concentrations to irrigation water increases its electrical conductivity by contributing to its salinity, resulting in crop yield losses. However, in cases where stress conditions are not observed, silicon can act as a biostimulant and promote vegetative growth, fruit quality, and fruit production. From this perspective, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of fertigation with different electrical conductivity levels associated with potassium silicate on the production parameters of cherry tomatoes grown in a protected environment. The study was conducted in Bom Jesus - PI, and arranged in a randomized block design with four replications and a 6 x 2 factorial corresponding to six electrical conductivity levels (1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, and 6.0 dS m-1) in the absence and presence of silicon (2 mmol L-1). The variables analyzed were the number of fruits per plant, fresh and dry fruit biomass, dry biomass of stem, leaves, bunches, root, shoot, and whole plant; and chemical quality of fruits (pH, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, and the ratio of total soluble solids to titratable acidity. Silicon supplementation increased the root and shoot dry masses and improved fruits quality, thus increasing cherry tomato production (Sweet Heaven hybrid) regardless of the electrical conductivity levels.