FERTILIZATION VIA CARBONATED WATER AND MINERAL CONCENTRATIONS IN A TOMATO CROP

In our experiments, application of carbonated water (CW) modified the nutritional status of a field-grown tomato crop. Fruit concentrations of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), and manganese (Mn) were initially increased by CW, after which they were similar to the controls (Zn and Mn) or lower (Cu and Fe). Leaf concentrations of the same group of elements were also increased in the later growth stages. Calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) in the earlier stages showed diminished concentrations in all plant parts in response to CW treatment; later on, a slightly higher Ca content was found in the fruit and lower in the leaves, while the fruit Mg content was decreased. Higher cation contents were found in the plant in response to the higher irrigation frequency and interaction with CW effect was detected in most of the cases. In the first period, leaf and fruit contents of all elements, except for Mg in the fruit were increased by daily irrigation. In the second one, leaf content of all nutrients was also increased; the fruit content of Mg, Ca and Zn was increased, while that of Cu, Fe, and Mn was decreased.