PRODUCTIVITY IMPROVEMENT OF TOMATO CROP UNDER ENVIRONMENTAL SALINE CONDITIONS

Abstract

Tomato plants of the cultivar Castel Rock were grown under saline calcareous soil conditions (Ras Sudr region) during 1995-1996 and 1996-1997 growingseasons.

The treatments were < livided as follows :

I. Soil amendments (town refuse (T.R.) at 20tonlfed., sulphur (S) at 500 kg I fed. and a mixture between them at the same previous rates).

2. Foliar spray with Zn at rates of 0.0 , 0.2 and 0.4 % as ZnS04 and K as K20 at ra1 es of 0.0 , 0.2 and 0.4 % .

3. The interaction between all previous treatments. The obtained results revealed that : Growth parameters and productivity of tomato plants increased significantly dlle to applications with town refuse , 0.4 % Zn or 0.4 % K20 foliar spray and town refuse + 0.4 % Zn treatments .

The highest values of T.S.S. and V.C in tomato fruits were attributed to applica1 ion ofT.R. , 0.4% Zn, 0.4 KiO and T.R. + 0.4% Zn treatments . Ca content, increased with application of T.R. + S soil addition, 0.4% K20 foliar spray and S + 0.4% K20 treatments.

Minerals content (N,P,K and Zn) in shoots of tomato plants was increased witl1 T.R..•application , 0.4 % Zn and 0.4% K20 foliar spray treatments . The interaction between town refuse in. combination with sulphur and 0.4% Zn foiiar spray gave the highest C< mcentration of Zn in tomato shoots . On the contrary, all tre:1tments under study decreased Na content . Sulphur treatment exhibited the lowest Na content in plants.