Yield and Quality of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Cultured in Bittern-Supplemented Hydroponic Solution
Penulis/Author
Prof. Ani Widiastuti, S.P., M.P., Ph.D. (5); Tatsuo Sato (13)
Tanggal/Date
2018
Kata Kunci/Keyword
Abstrak/Abstract
Increasing the electric conductivity (EC) of the nutrient solution for growing hydroponic tomatoes
(Solanum lycopersicum L.) is an effective way to increase fruit sugar content. The potential of bittern
and coarse salt (NaCl) to cause high-EC stress, thereby improving fruit yield and quality in tomato
plants under single- or double-truss cultivation were compared. Bittern is a by-product of the salt
manufacturing process; it is easy to use and inexpensive. In particular, bittern is more convenient than
common salt for high-EC treatment, because it is distributed as a solution, whereas common salt must
be dissolved to very high concentration. The experiments reported herein were conducted during
two growing seasons: spring and autumn. High-EC stress treatments (bittern or coarse salt) started
when the largest fruit on the first truss was 4 cm in diameter. Fruit yield and Brix sugar content in the
bittern treatment were similar or higher than in the salt treatment under both cultivation schemes.
The EC of the bittern-added nutrient solution increased faster than that of the solution with added
coarse salt. This trend was probably caused by the different ion compositions of bittern and coarse
salt. There were no differences in tomato growth among treatments. Thus, bittern is a practical and
effective additive for hydroponic single-truss tomato cultivation.
