The Effect of Different Organic and Chemical Fertilizers and their Combined Application on the Quantity and Quality Characteristics and Yield of Tomato

پژوهشهای زراعی ایران

Article 7, Volume 21, Issue 4 - Serial Number 72, January 2024, Pages 501-515   

Document Type: Research Article

DOI: 10.22067/jcesc.2023.82967.1256

Authors

A Aryanfar¹; P Rezvani Moghaddam^{* 2}; E Ebrahimi³

¹M.Sc. Student of Agroecology, Department of Agrotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran

²Department of Agrotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran

³Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agricultural and Environtmental Sciences, University of Rostock, Germany

Abstract

Introduction
Long-term use of chemical fertilizers can cause many adverse effects. In addition, excessive consumption of chemical fertilizers can lead to decreased food safety and low quality of vegetables, such as the accumulation of nitrates in plants. Today, using organic fertilizers is an efficient way to achieve sustainable agricultural development. The release rate of nutrients from organic fertilizers is slow and hardly exceeds the absorption capacity of plants compared to chemical fertilizers.
Materials and Methods
To compare the effect of chemical and organic fertilizers on the quantitative and qualitative traits of tomatoes in field conditions, an experiment was conducted in the cropping year of 2020-2021 in a randomized complete blocks design with three replications in the research farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran. Experimental treatments included: 1- biochar (8 t.ha^-1), 2- animal manure (30 t.ha^-1), 3- vermicompost (25 t.ha^-1), 4- NPK chemical fertilizer (225 kg.ha^-1 urea, 150 kg.ha^-1 phosphorus fertilizer and 150 kg.ha^-1 potassium sulfate), 5- 50% biochar + 50% animal manure, 6- 50% biochar + vermicompost, 7-50% animal manure + 50% vermicompost, 8- 50% biochar + 50% NPK, 9- 50% animal manure + 50% NPK, 10- 50% animal manure + 50% NPK, 11- 25% biochar + 25% animal manure + 25% vermicompost + 25% NPK and 12- control. The harvesting operation was carried out in two cutting. Five plants were randomly selected in each plot, and traits such as fruit size, length, and diameter were measured. Also, total yield, Brix index, vitamin C, and lycopene were measured in both cuttings.
Results and Discussion
In the first and second cutting, the highest fruit volume was obtained in the treatment of NPK chemical fertilizer (80.5 cm^-3) and the combined use of NPK chemical + animal manure (131 cm^-3), respectively. In the first cutting, the maximum fruit length was reported in the treatment of NPK chemical fertilizer (5.61 cm), and the second cutting, in the combined application of NPK chemical fertilizer + animal manure (7.16 cm) that compared to the control (4.73 cm) had a longer fruit length of 51%. The largest fruit diameter was observed in the NPK chemical fertilizer treatment (5.01 cm), which was 16% more than the control (4.31 cm). On the other hand, in the second cutting, the largest fruit diameter was shown in the combined application of chemical NPK + manure (5.54 cm). In the first cutting and the total of both cuttings, the highest yield was observed in the treatment of NPK chemical fertilizer (39.6 and 70.5 t.ha^-1, respectively), while in the second cutting, the highest yield was obtained in the combined treatment of NPK chemical fertilizer + animal manure. (32.8 ton.ha^-1). The results showed that using organic fertilizers individually and combinatorial compared to NPK chemical fertilizers had more Brix index, vitamin C, and lycopene. The highest amount of Brix index in first and second cutting (6.55 and 7.13, respectively), vitamin C (12.9 and 11.4 mg.100 g sample^-1, respectively), and lycopene (2.48 and 2.25 mg.100 g sample^-1, respectively) in the combined treatment of animal manure + vermicompost. Since the elements in the chemical fertilizer are released faster than the elements of other fertilizers and are available to the plant, therefore, by increasing the initial growth of the plant and as a result of improving its flowering potential, the total yield increased, in particular in the first cutting, where the superior treatment was the NPK chemical fertilizer. Further, due to the gradual release of organic fertilizer elements, the combined treatment of chemical and organic fertilizers increased the yield. On the other hand, organic matter plays an important role in soil fertility and performance. The rare elements in organic matter can meet the needs of soil microorganisms, enhance microbial activities, affect soil-microorganism interactions, and indirectly affect crop quality.
Conclusion
The use of organic fertilizer, when combined with chemical fertilizer, can enhance both the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of tomatoes. By substituting a portion of chemical fertilizer with organic fertilizer, not only can yield be improved, but it's also possible to reduce the consumption of costly chemical fertilizers. This approach aligns with sustainable agricultural goals by optimizing the use of organic fertilizers.

Keywords

Biochar; Brix index; Tomatoes; Vermicompost; Vitamin C

References

Adekiya, A. O., Dahunsi, S. O., Ayeni, J. F., Aremu, C., Aboyeji, C. M., Okunlola, F., & Oyelami, A. E. (2022). Organic and inorganic fertilizers effects on the performance of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and cucumber (Cucumis sativus) grown on soilless medium. Scientific Reports, 12, 12212. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-16497-5

Adekiya, A. O., Ejue, W. S., Olayanju, A., Dunsin, O., Aboyeji, C. M., Aremu, C., Adegbite, K., & Akinpelu, O. (2020). Different organic manure sources and NPK fertilizer on soil chemical properties, growth, yield and quality of okra. Scientific Reports, 10, 16083. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-73291-x

Adesemoye, A. O., & Kloepper, J. W. (2009). Plant-microbes’ interactions in enhanced fertilizer-use efficiency. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 85, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-009-2196-0

Ahmad, A. A., Radovich, T. J. K., Nguyen, H. V., Uyeda, J., Arakaki, A., Cadby, J., & Teves, G. (2016). Use of organic fertilizers to enhance soil fertility, plant growth, and yield in a tropical environment. Organic Fertilizers-From Basic Concepts to Applied Outcomes, 85-108. https://doi.org/10.5772/62529

Ali, M. M., Anwar, R., Malik, A. U., Khan, A. S., Ahmad, S., Hussain, Z., Ul Hasan, M., Nasir, M., & Chen, F. X. (2022). Plant growth and fruit quality response of strawberry is improved after exogenous application of 24-epibrassinolide. Journal of Plant Growth Regulation, 41, 1786-1799. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-021-10422-2

Ali, M. Y., Sina, A. I., Khandker, S. S., Neesa, L., Tanvir, E. M., Kabir, A., Khalil, M. I., & Gan, S. H. (2021). Nutritional composition and bioactive compounds in tomatoes and their impact on human health and disease: A Review. Foods, 10, 45. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10010045

Bai, M., Suter, H., Lam, S. K., Sun, J. L., & Chen, D. L. (2014). Use of open-path FTIR and inverse dispersion technique to quantify gaseous nitrogen loss from an intensive vegetable production site. Atmospheric Environment, 94, 687-691. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2014.06.013

Beeby, J., Moore, S., Taylor, L., & Nderitu, S. (2020). Effects of a one-time organic fertilizer application on long-term crop and residue yields, and soil quality measurements using biointensive agriculture. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 4, 67. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2020.00067

Bilalis, D., Krokida, M., Roussis, I., Papastylianou, P., Travlos, I., Cheimona, N., & Dede, A. (2018). Effects of organic and inorganic fertilization on yield and quality of processing tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). Folia Horticulturae, 30(2) 321-332. https://doi.org/10.2478/fhort-2018-0027

Blanco-Canqui, H., & Schlegel, A. J. (2013). Implications of inorganic fertilization of irrigated corn on soil properties: lessons learned after 50 years. Journal of Environmental Quality, 42, 861-871. https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq2012.0451

Boudet Antomarchi, A., Boicet Fabre, T., Duran Ricardo, S., & Merino Hernandez, Y. (2017). Effect on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) of different doses of organic fertilizer bocashi under agroecological conditions. Revista Centro Agricola, 44(4), 37-42

Cen, Y., Guo, L., Liu, M., Gu, X., Li, C., & Jiang, G. (2020). Using organic fertilizers to increase crop yield, economic growth, and soil quality in a temperate farmland. Peer Journal, 19, 8. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9668

Da Costa, P. B., Beneduzi, A., de Souza, R., Schoenfeld, R., Vargas, L. K., & Passaglia, L. M. P. (2013). The effects of different fertilization conditions on bacterial plant growth promoting traits: Guidelines for directed bacterial prospection and testing. Plant Soil, 368, 267-280. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-012-1513-z

Ding, X., Han, X., Liang, Y., Qiao, Y., Li, L., & Li, N. (2012). Changes in soil organic carbon pools after 10 years of continuous manuring combined with chemical fertilizer in a Mollisol in China. Soil and Tillage Research, 122, 36-41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2012.02.002

Ebrahimi, M., Souri, M. K., Mousavi, A., & Sahebani, N. (2021). Biochar and vermicompost improve growth and physiological traits of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) under deficit irrigation. Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture, 8, 19. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40538-021-00216-9

Farneselli, M., Tosti, G., Onofri, A., Benincasa, P., Guiducci, M., Pannacci, E., & Tei, F. (2018). Effects of N sources and management strategies on crop growth, yield and potential N leaching in processing tomato. European Journal of Agronomy, 98, 46-54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eja.2018.04.006

Gao, F., Li, H., Mu, X., Gao, H., Zhang, Y., Li, R., Cao, K., & Ye, L. (2023). Effects of organic fertilizer application on tomato yield and quality: a meta-analysis. Applied Sciences, 13, 2184. https://doi.org/10.3390/app13042184

Guo, J. X., Hu, X. Y., Gao, L. M., Xie, K. L., Ling, N., Shen, Q. R., Hu, S. J., & Guo, S. W. (2017). The rice production practices of high yield and high nitrogen use efficiency in Jiangsu, China. Scientific Reports, 7, 2101. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-02338-3

Harshavardhan, P. G., Vasundhara Raviraja, M., Shetty, G., Nataraja, A., Sreeramu, B. S., Chandre Gowda, M., & Sreenivasappa, K. N. (2007). Influence of spacing and integrated nutrient management on yield and quality of essential oil in lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.). BioMed Central, 2, 288.

Hoffland, E., Kuyper, T. W., Comans, R. N. J., & Creamer, R. E. (2020). Eco-functionality of organic matter in soils. Plant Soil, 455, 1-22. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-020-04651-9

Hu, G. Q., Ma, X. X., Li, X. H., & Wang, H. (2022). Evaluation of organic substitution based on vegetable yield and soil fertility. Environmental Pollutants and Bioavailability, 34, 162-170. https://doi.org/10.1080/26395940.2022.2064335

Huang, L. A., Cheng, S. M., Liu, H. L., Zhao, Z. X., Wei, S. X., & Sun, S. L. (2022). Effects of nitrogen reduction combined with organic fertilizer on growth and nitrogen fate in banana at seedling stage. Environmental Research, 214, 113826. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2022.113826

Janusauskaite, D., & Ciuberkis, S. (2010). Effect of different soil tillage and organic fertilizers on winter triticale and spring barley stem base diseases. Crop Protection, 29, 802-807. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2010.04.002

Lam, S. K., Suter, H., Mosier, A. R., & Chen, D. L. (2017). Using nitrification inhibitors to mitigate agricultural N2O emission: A double-edged sword? Global Change Biology, 23, 485-489. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.13338

Madrid, R., Barba, E. M., Sanchez, A., & Garcia, A. L. (2009). Effects of organic fertilisers and irrigation level on physical and chemical quality of industrial tomato fruit (cv. Nautilus). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 89, 2608-2615. https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.3763

Maguire, V. G., Bordenave, C. D., Nieva, A. S., Llames, M. E., Colavolpe, M. B., Garriz, A., & Ruiz, O. A. (2020). Soil bacterial and fungal community structure of a rice monoculture and rice-pasture rotation systems. Applied Soil Ecology, 151, 103535. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2020.103535

Mehnaz, S., & Lazarovits, G. (2016). Inoculation effects of Pseudomonas putida, Gluconacetobacter azotocaptans, and Azospirillum lipoferum on corn plant growth under greenhouse conditions. Microbial Ecology, 51, 326-335. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-006-9039-7

Mi, W. H., Wu, L. H., Brookes, P. C., Liu, Y. L., Zhang, X., & Yang, X. (2016). Changes in soil organic carbon fractions under integrated management systems in a low-productivity paddy soil given different organic amendments and chemical fertilizers. Soil and Tillage Research, 163, 64-70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2016.05.009

Mohamed, A. S., Shohba, N. E. A., Abou-Taleb, S. A., Abbas, M. S., & Soliman, A. S. (2018). Beneficial effects of Bio-Organic fertilizers as a partial replacement of chemical fertilizers on productivity and fruit quality of Pomegranate trees. Bioscience Research, 15, 4603-4616.

Mostofi, Y., & Najafi, F. (2008). Laboratory and analytical methods in horticultural science. Tehran University Press. (In Persian).

Pellejero, G., Palacios, J., Vela, E., Gajardo, O., Albrecht, L., Aschkar, G., Chrorolque, A., Garcia-Navarro, F. J., & Jimenez-Ballesta, R. (2021). Effect of the application of compost as an organic fertilizer on a tomato crop (Solanum lycopersicum L.) produced in the field in the Lower Valley of the Rio Negro (Argentina). International Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture, 10, 145-155.

Salehi, B., Sharifi-Rad, R., Sharopov, F., Namiesnik, J., Roointan, A., Kamle, M., Kumar, P., Martins, N., & Sharifi-Rad, J. (2019). Beneficial effects and potential risks of tomato consumption for human health: an overview. Nutrition, 62, 201-208. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2019.01.012

Serio, F., Ayala, O., Bonasia, A., & Santamaria, P. (2006). Antioxidant properties and health benefits of tomato. In Recent Progress in Medicinal Plants (Search for Natural Drugs); Studium Press: Totnes, U.K. Volume 13.

Shang, L., Wan, L., Zhou, X., Li, S., & Li, X. (2020). Effects of organic fertilizer on soil nutrient status, enzyme activity, and bacterial community diversity in Leymus chinensis steppe in Inner Mongolia, China. PLoS One, 15(10), e0240559. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0240559

Simpson, R. J., Oberson, A., Culvenor, R. A., Ryan, M. H., Veneklaas, E. J., Lambers, H., Lynch, J. P., Ryan, P. R., Delhaize, E., & Smith, F. A. (2011). Strategies and agronomic interventions to improve the phosphorus-use efficiency of farming systems. Plant Soil, 349, 89-120. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-011-0880-1

Snapp, S. S., Nyiraneza, J., Otto, M., & Kirk, W. W. (2013). Managing manure in potato and vegetable systems, Extension Bulletin E28-93, Michigan State University. Available at: www.msue.msu.edu

Tao, Y., Liu, T., Wu, J. Y., Wu, Z. S., Liao, D. L., Shah, F., & Wu, W. (2022). Effect of combined application of chicken manure and inorganic nitrogen fertilizer on yield and quality of cherry tomato. Agronomy, 12, 1574. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12071574

Tei, F., Benincasa, P., & Guiducci, M. (2002). Critical nitrogen concentration in processing tomato. European Journal of Agronomy, 18, 45-55. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1161-0301(02)00096-5

Terada, N., Dissanayake, K., Okada, C., Sanada, A., & Koshio, K. (2023). Micro-tom tomato response to fertilization rates and the effect of cultivation systems on fruit yield and quality. Horticulturae, 9, 367. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9030367

Tilesi, F., Lombardi, A., & Mazzucato, A. (2021). Scientometric and methodological analysis of the recent literature on the health-related effects of tomato and tomato products. Foods, 10, 1905. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10081905

Yanga, L., Zhaoa, F., Changa, Q., Li, T., & Li, F. (2015). Effects of vermicomposts on tomato yield and quality and soil fertility in greenhouse under different soil water regimes. Agricultural Water Management, 160, 98-105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2015.07.002

Zhang, K. L., Chen, L., Li, Y., Brookes, P. C., Xu, J. M., & Luo, Y. (2017). The effects of combinations of biochar, lime, and organic fertilizer on nitrification and nitrifiers. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 53, 77-87. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-016-1154-0