Plant Growth and Nutrient Accumulation in Two Tomato Hybrids under Tropical Conditions

An adequate nutrient supply can reduce production costs, improve tomato quality, and increase yield. Understanding the nutritional needs of tomato plants is thus fundamental to its successful cultivation. This study characterised plant growth and nutrient accumulation and export in ‘Gault’ and ‘Pomerano’ hybrid tomatoes cultivated under tropical conditions in Brazil. The experimental design was randomised blocks with four replicates. Leaf number, tissue dry weights, and nutrient accumulation were evaluated throughout the growing cycle. Plant growth was slow at the beginning of the cycle, but total accumulation of dry matter began to increase faster when ‘Gault’ and ‘Pomerano’ had 29 and 28 leaves, peaking at 767.6 and 712.5 g plant -1 , respectively, by the end of the cycle. Fruit yields were 148.5 and 122.6 t ha -1 for ‘Gault’ and ‘Pomerano’, respectively. The maximum nutrient accumulation for both hybrids at the end of the cycle was in the order K > N > Ca > S > Mg > P > Mn > Fe > Cu > Zn > B. The amounts of N, P, and K were highest in the fruit, and the amounts of Ca, Mg, and S were highest in the vegetative tissues, for both hybrids.