Polysulphate fertilizer increased tomato yield by 5%, improved fruit setting and appearance, and reduced blossom end rot.
Location
Popayán, Cauca State, Colombia.
Objective
To evaluate the effect on tomato yield of using Polysulphate as a complementary nutrient source.
Treatments
This trial consisted of six rows with two treatments: 1) No Polysulphate, 2) 60 g of Polysulphate/plant, equivalent to 1.5 tons/ha, applied 46 days after planting. Both treatments received a total NPK application of 200, 200 and 400 kg/ha, from 10-30-10, 10-20-20, 16-16-16. Treatment 2 used Polysulphate as a complementary K source that reduced the KCl application. The whole crop received soil fertilization at 10, 46, 55 and 85 days after planting, plus fertigation every two weeks.
Results
- Polysulphate increased tomato yield by 5% compared with the control.
- Addition of K, Ca, Mg and S from Polysulphate improved the fruit setting and appearance.
- Polysulphate application resulted in a high reduction of blossom-end rot, common in the region.
- A dose of 30-60 g/plant of Polysulphate is recommended to increase tomato productivity and improve fruit quality.
Bars indicate standard errors.