Abstract
Fertigation is considered an efficient alternative to the enhanced use of chemical fertilizers. Since most of the fertigation systems rely on a theoretical electrical conductivity value of the nutrient solution, we tried to evaluate if this is the real need of the plants as well as if all the nutrients are needed at once. Therefore, we analyzed the electrical signals of the nutrients applied individually or in different mixes, correlating the electrical signals with the leaf gas exchange processes, studying the relation between the electrical signals and different plant phenological stages and the influence of the treatments on the lycopene content, nutritional composition, and antinutritional factors as well as the mineral bioavailability of tomato fruits cv. Brillante F1. The study was carried out in a greenhouse under controlled conditions. Ten different treatments consisting of MaEs (major elements) (V1—MgSO4, V2—KNO3, V3—K2SO4, V4—Ca(NO3)2, V5—KH2PO4, V6—KCl, V7—MgSO4 + KNO3 + KH2PO4, V8—K2SO4 + Ca(NO3)2 + KCl, V9—the mix of V1 to V6, commonly used in agricultural practices, V10—one nutrient each day) were applied daily when plants were 42 days old. The results showed that the values of the electrical signals varied depending on the treatment and the plant phenological stage. Five different trends of the electrical signals were identified. In addition, the shape of the signals varied during the day in accordance with the photosynthesis and the amount of CO2 registered. The results of the treatments’ influence on the nutritional composition and lycopene content of tomato fruits suggested that plants do not need all the nutrients at once; the highest values are registered for K2SO4 fertilization. However, this fertilizer also had the highest registered tannin, saponin, and trypsin inhibitors content, constituting a disadvantage considering the high nutritional values and lycopene content. Regarding the bioavailability of zinc, calcium, and iron for the human diet, regardless of the treatment applied, phytic acid did not affect the availability of zinc and calcium, but it had a negative impact on iron availability; also, the amount of oxalate could impair the bioavailability of calcium. The study suggests that tomato plants do not need all nutrients at once for quality fruits. However, further studies are needed in order to develop a fertigation scheme based on a smart nutrient use that provides an improved nutritional composition and mineral bioavailability. In addition, it is necessary to evaluate the influence of treatments on yield.
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Claims 9
Claim · model-written summary
Electrical signals varied with nutrient treatment and phenological stage.
- Taxon
- tomato
Solanum lycopersicumt0 - Organ / stage
- plant phenological stagee0
- Treatment
- treatmente0
- Outcome
- values of the electrical signalse0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the values of the electrical signals varied depending on the treatment and the plant phenological stage.”
t0“Tomato”
Claim · model-written summary
Five electrical signal trends were identified.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicumt0
- Outcome
- trends of the electrical signalse0
- Value
- Fivee0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Five different trends of the electrical signals were identified.”
t0“Tomato”
Claim · model-written summary
Daily signal shape varied with photosynthesis and CO2.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicumt0
- Outcome
- shape of the signalse0
- Qualifier
- photosynthesis and the amount of CO2e0
- Setting
- during the daye0
Not reportedOrgan / stageDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the shape of the signals varied during the day in accordance with the photosynthesis and the amount of CO2 registered.”
t0“Tomato”
Claim · model-written summary
K2SO4 fertilization produced the highest fruit nutritional composition and lycopene values.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicumt0
- Treatment
- K2SO4 fertilizatione0
- Outcome
- highest valuese0
- Direction
- higheste0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the highest values are registered for K2SO4 fertilization.”
t0“Tomato”
Claim · model-written summary
K2SO4 fertilizer also produced highest tannin, saponin and trypsin inhibitor contents.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicumt0
- Treatment
- K2SO4e1
- Outcome
- tannin, saponin, and trypsin inhibitors contente0
- Direction
- higheste0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“this fertilizer also had the highest registered tannin, saponin, and trypsin inhibitors content”
t0“Tomato Crop Performances under Chemical Nutrients Monitored by Electric Signal”
e1“the highest values are registered for K2SO4 fertilization.”
Claim · model-written summary
Phytic acid did not affect zinc and calcium bioavailability in tomato fruit.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicumt0
- Compound
- phytic acide0
- Outcome
- availability of zinc and calciume0
- Direction
- did not affecte0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“phytic acid did not affect the availability of zinc and calcium”
t0“Tomato”
Claim · model-written summary
Phytic acid negatively affected iron availability.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicumt0
- Compound
- phytic acide1
- Outcome
- iron availabilitye0
- Direction
- negative impacte0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“it had a negative impact on iron availability”
t0“Tomato”
e1“phytic acid did not affect the availability of zinc and calcium”
Claim · model-written summary
Oxalate might impair calcium bioavailability.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicumt0
- Compound
- oxalatee0
- Outcome
- bioavailability of calciume0
- Direction
- impaire0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the amount of oxalate could impair the bioavailability of calcium.”
t0“Tomato”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors suggest tomato plants need not receive all nutrients at once for quality fruit.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicume0
- Outcome
- do not need all nutrients at once for quality fruitse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“tomato plants do not need all nutrients at once for quality fruits.”