The effectiveness of tomato plant fertilization programs using
montmorillonite
clay, composted cattle manure, and NPK-based fertilizer supplements,
given individually or in combination, was investigated April 18 through
August 30, 1998. Growth, productivity and plant health were measured to
determine the benefit of each treatment. Eight identical 0.2 m flats each
received one of the following soil treatments: 1. topsoil only as control
(T), 2. topsoil and compost (TC), 3. topsoil and fertilizer (TF), 4.
topsoil and montmorillonite clay (TM), 5. topsoil, compost, and
montmorillonite clay (TCM), 6. topsoil, compost, and fertilizer (TCF), 7.
topsoil, fertilizer, and montmorillonite (TFM), and 8. topsoil, compost,
fertilizer, and montmorillonite clay (TCFM). Perlite was added to each
flat without compost to make up for the difference in soil volume. Twenty
four tomato seed of the Better Boy hybrid variety were planted in each
flat. On June 8th, twelve plants from each treatment flat were
transplanted individually to identical plastic pots containing the
appropriate soil treatment. All plants received similar light,
temperature, and moisture.
Results:
The number of open blossoms through 39 days after transplanting was
greatest for the TCFM treatment as reported in Figure 1. TCFM produced
19.4% more blossoms than the next best treatment, TF. TCFM produced 11.7%
more tomato fruit by 46 days after transplanting compared to the next best
treatment, TCM, as shown in Figure 2. Figure 3 shows TCM produced the
largest mean tomato fruit mass of 140 grams followed by a mean of 118
grams for treatment TCFM (subjectively measured at the point of optimal
ripeness). Figure 4 shows TM plants had the best health index based on
severity of blight (8.22) compared the next best index for TCM (6.75). On
day 82 after transplanting, all plants were rinsed free of soil and
weighted for average green mass. Figure 5 shows TF had a best average
green mass of 859.95 grams followed by TCFM with an average mass of 829.88
grams.
Conclusions:
Treatments containing montmorillonite clay were superior to all other treatments in four of
five measures taken on growth, plant health, and productivity. Montmorillonite clay was also a part of the second best treatment in
four or the five measures. It seems apparent the trace mineral
supplementation provided by montmorillonite clay supports better tomato
performance than simple compost or NPK-fertilizer programs used
independently or in combination.
