Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of different organic fertilizers on yield and fruit qualities of indeterminate tomato. Influences of different organic and inorganic fertilizers on yields and fruit qualitiy of tomato were compared during 2006 and 2007 growing periods under field conditions. In 2006 growing period, organic fertilizes used were Ormin K (250 kg/ha before planting;  30 kg/ha after first flowering; 80 kg/ha after first harvest), Coplex (50 kg/ha every week from planting to last harvest), Nof (40 kg/ha every week, from planting to last harvest), composted poultry manure (CPM) (1 t/ha before planting;  0.5 ton/ha after first flowering and 0.5 ton/ha after first harvest (liquid form)) and composted cattle manure (CCM) (60 t/ha before planting; 5 ton/ha after first flowering and 5 ton/ha after first harvest (liquid form)). Based on the first year results, organic fertilizers used during 2007 growing periods were F1 (20 ton/ha CCM before planting; 1 t/ha CPM before planting; 40 kg/ha Coplex and 20 kg/ha Nof  every week) and F2 (20 t/ha CCM before planting; 500 kg/ha Ormin K before planting; 30 kg/ha Coplex and 30 kg/ha Nof every week). Inorganic fertilizers used as a control were N: 450, P₂O₅: 350, K₂O: 600, CaO:50, S: 200, and Mg:50 kg/ha. Tomato cultivars used in this study were Alida Fı in 2006 growing period and Alida Fı, Yankı Fı and Maya Fı in 2007 growing period.  In 2006, the highest yields obtained from CPM, CCM, and control treatments were 128.12, 122.92 and 115.24 t/ha respectively. In 2007, marketable yield obtained from F1 fertilizer treatment was similar to the control application. Unmarketable yield was not effected from the different fertilizer treatments. There was no significant difference among the treatments. However fruit cracking rates were higher in organic fertilizer treatments than the inorganic fertilizer treatment. Finally, application of 20 to 40 t/ha composted cattle manure befor planting and addition of commercial organic fertilizers such as coplex, nof and ormin K can be used as an alternative to the chemical fertilizers in indeterminate tomato cultivation.

Key words: Tomato, organic fertilizer, cattle manure, poltry manure, yield.