The study of the elements of tomato cultivation technology in the conditions of subirrigation aeroponics at Fitopiramida greenhouse

Aeroponics and hydroponics technologies are one of the most advanced today. For vegetable growers, multi-tiered hydroponics is of great interest. One of its variants is the multi-tier plant Fitopiramida – designed for soilless growing of plants by the air method (subirrigation aeroponics). The first stage of the breeding process to create hybrids for a small-volume crop such as Fitopiramidа was a comparative test of varieties and hybrids of tomato with different colours and fruit weights. Preliminary experiments have shown the effectiveness and good adaptability of tomatoes of the determinant type of growth for the conditions of Fitopiramida. Therefore, it was decided to test 2 commercial determinant hybrids, differing in early maturity, weight and colour of the fruit. For the main nutrition in the Fitopiramidа technology, a solution of fertilizers of constant composition is used, specially selected for the tomato culture. However, it is known from the literature that tomato plants at various stages of development need specific ratios of basic elements and microelements, therefore, to optimize plant growth and development, it was proposed to test several options for foliar feeding. The aim of the work was the selection and assessment of the assortment of determinant tomatoes for suitability for cultivation under the conditions of this technology, the study of the effect on the yield of 2 determinant hybrids of different foliar dressings, as well as the assessment of the level of interaction «variety-option of feeding» based on the statistical analysis of the results. Research carried out in 2019-2020 allow us to draw preliminary conclusions: from 24 tested determinant hybrids, the earliest ripening, with a relatively high level of dry matter content, lycopene, were isolated; the F1 Rozanna hybrid is more suitable for the conditions of the Fitopyramida. This is reliable, both in terms of yield and in terms of productivity. Among the investigated options for the use of mineral fertilizers, the most maximum and reliable results were obtained in the 3NPK option; on the basis of statistical processing, the optimal variant of the interaction «variety-level of mineral nutrition» was established - hybrid F1 Rozanna against the background of 3NPK.

Key words: aeroponics, tomato, hybrids, low-volume technology, feeding, determinant hybrids, earliness, yield, productivity