Evaluación de sustratos para la obtención de plantas de tomate de árbol (Solanum Betaceum) con la utilización de bandejas

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out on the property of Mr. Jaime Barraquel, located in the sector of Guadalupe, Pelileo canton, Tungurahua Province, a place located at an altitude of 2,400 m.a.s.l with a temperature that ranges from 13 to 14 °C. The experimental design used was that of randomized complete blocks with three repetitions. The use of professional substrate (80% blonde peat + 20% black peat), induced the growth in length of the tomato tree seedlings since with this the best averages were obtained in the plant height at 15, 30 and 45 days of the transplant because it provided the optimum conditions of humidity, aeration and texture for a better development of the seedlings. In the variable number of leaves, better results were obtained with the use of professional substrate (80% blonde peat + 20% black peat), but not with the rest of substrates whose average was lower, possibly due to the characteristics of the substrates were not suitable for this crop. The root length as well as the volume of root of the plants developed in professional substrate (80% blonde peat + 20% black peat) had higher values than in the rest of substrates because this provides the adequate conditions of aeration, humidity and compaction for the root development of tree tomato plants. Once the experiment was completed, more plants were obtained to be planted in the field with the use of professional substrate (80% blonde peat + 20% black peat) probably because it is the optimal sustenance due to its properties of retaining the right amount of moisture, provide aeration and the appropriate texture for the development of the plants.