The yield of tomato seeds of the Chaika variety under different fertilizer systems in the conditions of the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine

Abstract

Goal. To study the regularities of the influence of different fertilizer systems on the formation of seed productivity of the Chaika variety of tomato in the conditions of the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. Methods. Field, laboratory, and statistical analyses. The research was conducted during 2019–2021 in the experimental field and in the agrochemical laboratory of the Institute of Vegetable and Melon Growing of the NAAS. Results. The influence of 12 variants of different fertilizer systems was evaluated: sideral with a complex of microbiological preparations and fertilizers (Azotofit-r, Organik-balans-r, Groundfix, Biodestructor of stubble Ekostern), mineral (foliar “Nutrivant plus universal”, 2 kg/ha in three terms), organic and organic-mineral. The effect of fertilizers and biological preparations on the microbiological activity of the soil, the content of chlorophyll in the leaves, biometric parameters, and seed productivity of Chaika tomato plants was studied. Conclusions. According to the research results, it was established that the organic-mineral fertilizer system increased the number of microorganisms assimilating organic nitrogen (13.63 million CFU per 1 g of dry soil) while simultaneously reducing the number that assimilates mineral nitrogen (19.96 million CFU per 1 g of dry soil), including bacteria (15.31 million CFU per 1 g of dry soil). With the application of mineral fertilizers N120P120K90 and the after-effect of 14 t/ha of manure + N60P60K45 (locally), the content of chlorophylls A and B in the leaves increased (9.03–8.93 mg/kg and 4.88–5.52 mg/kg, respectively), as well as the amount of chlorophylls A + B (14.55–13.93 mg / kg). Under biological fertilizer systems, peroxidase activity in tomato leaves in the phase of mass fruiting increased (90.1–104.4 mmol / g in 1 s). When mineral fertilizers were applied, the activity of peroxidase decreased (58.4–71.8 mmol / g in 1 s) with a simultaneous positive effect on the height, number of clusters, and plant weight. Therefore, fertilizer systems had an insignificant effect on the mass of 1,000 seeds of the Chaika variety of tomato.