Production of tomato cultivars in hydroponics and fertigation with different ratios between nitrogen and potassium

Production of tomato cultivars in hydroponics and fertigation with different ratios between nitrogen and potassium Protected tomato cultivation presents a high potassium demand for obtaining high fruit yield and quality, but the ratio between nitrogen and potassium supplies which provides such results has not been sufficiently evaluated. The fruit yield and quality of four tomato cultivars were evaluated in hydroponics and fertigation systems at two ratios between N and K provided to the plants. Two experiments were carried out simultaneously in greenhouse, in 4x2 factorial design with four replicates, comprising four genotypes (cultivars Cereja 261, San Marzano, Santa Clara and the hybrid Cereja Chipano) and two N:K ratios (1:1.5 and 1:2 in hydroponics, and 1:2 and 1:3 in fertigation). Average yield of marketable fruits was 2.5 and 1.8 kg/plant in the hydroponics and fertigation system, respectively, reaching 3.3 kg/plant for cv. Santa Clara in hydroponics. In hydroponics, the N:K ratios nor did affect fruit production nor the soluble solids concentration, but the marketable fruit yield increased 6.5% at the N:K ratio 1:2. The N:K ratio 1:2 in hydroponics increased the average mass and diameter of marketable fruits, reducing K concentration in fruits. In the fertigation system, the N:K ratio 1:3 stimulated the vegetative growth of tomato plants but did not affect the fruit quality and yield. The cultivars San Marzano and Santa Clara presented higher fruit yield in both experiments. Fruit yield and total soluble solids of San Marzano and Santa Clara were higher in the hydroponics system when compared to fertigation. The hydroponics system provided higher fruit yield than the fertigation system for San Marzano and Santa Clara and, in hydroponics, the N:K ratio 1:2 improved fruits with higher marketable quality.