Use of boron sources and doses in the industrial tomato under irrigation

Abstract

Boron sources and doses can positively increase fruit quality and tomato yield. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of boron doses and sources on the development and yield of industrial tomatoes under irrigation. A randomized block design with four replications in a 3x4x2 factorial scheme was used. Three boron sources, boric acid, borax, and ulexite; four boron doses (0, 1, 2, and 3 kg/ha); and two locations, Goianésia, GO (AE I) and Vila Propício, GO (AE II) were evaluated. Stem diameter (SD), plant height (PH), the total number of fruits (TNF), the number of ripe fruits (NRF), the number of green fruits per plant (NGF), the number of lateral branches per plant (NLB), longitudinal fruit diameter (LFD), transversal fruit diameter (TFD), yield (YLD), total soluble solids content (°BRIX), pH, and titratable acidity (TA) were evaluated. There was no significant difference for the evaluated boron sources, while boron doses statistically influenced the increase in the TNF, NRF, °BRIX, and YLD. The dose of 1.23 kg ha-1 provided the highest values of ºBRIX (4.75%). The dose of 1.89 kg/ha provided the highest yield (119001.5 kg/ha), regardless of sources and locations. Boron sources did not significantly affect tomato crops, so both can be used for the study conditions