Abstract
This study evaluates the effects of varying potassium sulfate concentrations in the nutrient solution, as well as foliar applications of calcium nitrate and potassium silicate, on growth, physiological traits, nutrient status, and fruit quality of tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. Var. Isabella) grown in a greenhouse hydroponic system. A factorial experiment was designed with three potassium sulfate levels (0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mM) and five foliar spray treatments (control, two levels each of calcium nitrate and potassium silicate). The results showed that combined application of 1.5 mM potassium sulfate with foliar calcium nitrate (0.25 g L −1 ) significantly enhanced plant height, leaf area, shoot and root biomass, as well as fruit yield, diameter, and vitamin C content, compared to other treatments. Application of potassium sulfate at 1.5 mM combined with foliar spraying of calcium nitrate at 0.25 g/L significantly enhanced overall plant growth. The fresh and dry weights of shoots increased by 4% and 12%, respectively, compared to the control. Additionally, the number of fruits per plant was significantly higher, resulting in a 35% increase in total fruit number per plant with this combined treatment. Calcium nitrate foliar sprays were more effective than potassium silicate in promoting most growth and physiological traits. Potassium treatments increased photosynthetic pigment concentration and nutrient uptake, while both calcium and silicon sprays improved plant vigor and fruit quality. The observed synergistic benefits are attributed to potassium role in stomatal regulation and assimilate transport, calcium contribution to cell integrity and photosynthesis, and silicon enhancement of water-use efficiency and leaf structure. Overall, the study demonstrates that managing the ratio and delivery of potassium, calcium, and silicon, through both nutrient solutions and foliar application, can significantly improve growth and nutrition of hydroponically cultivated tomatoes. These practical findings provide valuable guidance for optimizing tomato productivity and quality in soilless greenhouse agriculture.
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Claims 9
Claim · model-written summary
Combined potassium sulfate and calcium nitrate increased plant height, leaf area, and shoot and root biomass.
- Taxon
- tomato
Solanum lycopersicumt0 - Treatment
- 1.5 mM potassium sulfate with foliar calcium nitrate (0.25 g L −1 )e0
- Outcome
- plant height, leaf area, shoot and root biomasse0
- Direction
- enhancede0
- Comparator
- other treatmentse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“combined application of 1.5 mM potassium sulfate with foliar calcium nitrate (0.25 g L −1 ) significantly enhanced plant height, leaf area, shoot and root biomass, as well as fruit yield, diameter, and vitamin C content, compared to other treatments.”
t0“tomato”
Claim · model-written summary
The combined treatment increased fruit yield, diameter and vitamin C content.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicumt0
- Treatment
- 1.5 mM potassium sulfate with foliar calcium nitrate (0.25 g L −1 )e0
- Outcome
- fruit yield, diameter, and vitamin C contente0
- Direction
- enhancede0
- Comparator
- other treatmentse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“combined application of 1.5 mM potassium sulfate with foliar calcium nitrate (0.25 g L −1 ) significantly enhanced plant height, leaf area, shoot and root biomass, as well as fruit yield, diameter, and vitamin C content, compared to other treatments.”
t0“tomato”
Claim · model-written summary
Combined treatment increased shoot fresh weight by 4%.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicumt0
- Treatment
- potassium sulfate at 1.5 mM combined with foliar spraying of calcium nitrate at 0.25 g/Lt1
- Outcome
- fresh and dry weights of shootse0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- 4%e0
- Comparator
- controle0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The fresh and dry weights of shoots increased by 4% and 12%, respectively, compared to the control.”
t0“tomato”
t1“potassium sulfate at 1.5 mM combined with foliar spraying of calcium nitrate at 0.25 g/L”
Claim · model-written summary
Combined treatment increased shoot dry weight by 12%.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicumt0
- Treatment
- potassium sulfate at 1.5 mM combined with foliar spraying of calcium nitrate at 0.25 g/Lt1
- Outcome
- dry weights of shootse0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- 12%e0
- Comparator
- controle0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The fresh and dry weights of shoots increased by 4% and 12%, respectively, compared to the control.”
t0“tomato”
t1“potassium sulfate at 1.5 mM combined with foliar spraying of calcium nitrate at 0.25 g/L”
Claim · model-written summary
Combined treatment increased total fruits per plant by 35%.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicumt0
- Treatment
- this combined treatmente0
- Outcome
- total fruit number per plante0
- Direction
- increasee0
- Value
- 35%e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the number of fruits per plant was significantly higher, resulting in a 35% increase in total fruit number per plant with this combined treatment.”
t0“tomato”
Claim · model-written summary
Calcium nitrate sprays were more effective than potassium silicate for most growth and physiological traits.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicumt0
- Treatment
- Calcium nitrate foliar sprayse0
- Outcome
- most growth and physiological traitse0
- Direction
- more effectivee0
- Comparator
- potassium silicatee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Calcium nitrate foliar sprays were more effective than potassium silicate in promoting most growth and physiological traits.”
t0“tomato”
Claim · model-written summary
Potassium treatments increased photosynthetic pigments and nutrient uptake.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicumt0
- Treatment
- Potassium treatmentse0
- Outcome
- photosynthetic pigment concentration and nutrient uptakee0
- Direction
- increasede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Potassium treatments increased photosynthetic pigment concentration and nutrient uptake”
t0“tomato”
Claim · model-written summary
Calcium sprays improved vigor and fruit quality.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicumt0
- Treatment
- calciume0
- Outcome
- plant vigor and fruit qualitye0
- Direction
- improvede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“both calcium and silicon sprays improved plant vigor and fruit quality.”
t0“tomato”
Claim · model-written summary
Silicon sprays improved vigor and fruit quality.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicumt0
- Treatment
- silicon sprayse0
- Outcome
- plant vigor and fruit qualitye0
- Direction
- improvede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“both calcium and silicon sprays improved plant vigor and fruit quality.”
t0“tomato”
The same questions in other papers
potassium sulfate · quality: phytochemicals · Solanum lycopersicum (tomato)Positive and negative results
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- negative
- positive
silicon atom · quality: grain · Solanum lycopersicum (tomato)Positive and negative results
1 paper in the same direction as this paper · 1 reporting no difference from an alternative
- no effect
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calcium nitrate · growth · Solanum lycopersicum (tomato)Positive and negative results
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calcium atom · quality: grain · Solanum lycopersicum (tomato)Positive and negative results
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application · quality: grain · Solanum lycopersicum (tomato)Positive and negative results
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See all 58 papers →application · growth · Solanum lycopersicum (tomato)Positive and negative results
224 papers in the same direction as this paper · 26 in the opposite direction · 2 reporting no difference from an alternative
- no effect
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See all 253 papers →8 of 9 groups shown: named compounds and organisms first, then groups whose results differ (checked claim by claim), then those with positive and negative results, then the smaller groups.
Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.