J. Mataix

Effects of cadmium on nutrient distribution, yield, and growth of tomato grown in soilless culture

Abstract The effect of cadmium (Cd) on nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na) and the micro‐nutrients iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and boron (B) on tomato plants was studied. Two Cd treatments were imposed by adding 10 or 30 mg/L Cd to the culture solution as cadmium chloride (CdCl2). The nutrients mainly affected by these Cd treatments were P, K, Fe, Mn, and Zn in the roots and stems and also P and Mn in fruits. Their absorption and/or translocation could be impeded by Cd. Yield was also diminished but not the mean fresh weight of fruit. Plant growth was affected negatively by Cd, root and stem length and fresh weight decreasing with each increment of Cd added to the nutrient solution.

Effects of chromium on the nutrient element content and morphology of tomato

Abstract An hydroponic experiment was conducted to study the effects of chromium (Cr3+) on the distribution of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), sodium (Na), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and Cr in the plant, and the growth and yield of a tomato plant. Three Cr treatments were established (0, 50, and 100 mg Cr/L in a nutrient solution). In general, the nutrient element concentration in stems and branches was significantly affected by the Cr treatments. Chromium accumulated preferentially in the roots and low transport was detected to the aerial parts. Growth was diminished due to Cr presence in the nutrient solution. Total yield was not affected, however the number of fruits was diminished and the mean fresh weight of fuit increased with each increment of Cr in the nutrient solution. Chromium was not detected in the edible part (fruit) of the plant.

Salinity and nitrogen fertilization affecting the macronutrient content and yield of sweet pepper plants

Abstract The effects of salinity due to sodium chloride (NaCl) and nitrogen (N) concentration in the nutrient solution were studied with sweet pepper plants. Four saline treatments combined with two N fertilization were used. Nitrate‐nitrogen (NO3 ‐‐N) presence in the nutrient solution produced an increase of sodium (Na) and potassium (K) contents in leaves as well as N. Salinity promoted a reduction of K, phosphorus (P) and Ca and increased the Na concentration in leaves. Calcium (Ca) concentrations were lower in the higher NO3 ‐‐N treatment although N level was reached adding calcium nitrate and salinity increased P, K, Na, Ca, and magnesium (Mg) contents in fruits. Yield was increased in the highest N treatment.

Effect of nickel concentration on tomato plant nutrition and dry matter yield

Abstract An experiment was conducted to study the effect of nickel (Ni) on the nutrition of tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum M. cv. Marmande). Dry matter weights of roots, shoots, and fruit were also studied. Plants, receiving 5, 15, and 30 mg Ni L‐1, were grown in nutrient solution, and roots, stems plus branches, leaves, and fruit were analyzed at different developmental stages for essential nutrients. The presence of Ni in nutrient medium affected plant growth, decreasing dramatically dry matter yield compared to control plants. This plant reduction was likely due to the disturbances and imbalances of the different essential mineral elements. The general effect was a decrease in the absorption and accumulation of these nutrients. The nitrogen (N) content in the plant increased significantly with increasing Ni treatments, showing a synergetic effect between Ni and N. A positive interaction between Ni and potassium (K) was also found. In this way, high levels of Ni in solution caused an increase in...

Quantitative analysis of organic wastes: Effects of sample preparation in the determination of metals

Abstract One of the most important analytical problems is the sample preparation to measure the total concentration of elements. Ashing procedure and microwave preparation are two important methods used. Ashing procedure is based in the mineralization of the sample in a furnace for 6 to 8 hours at 400 to 500°C followed by acid dissolution. Microwave digestion is based in an acid attack of the sample favoured by electrothermal radiation for some minutes. Organic residues are often used as soil amendments in agriculture. Some of them like sewage sludge and urban residues have heavy metals in their composition. It is important to measure them in order to establish their adequate use and minimize the potential environmental pollution. In this work, cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) were analyzed in six residues from agriculture (almonds residue), cities (urban refuses from Madrid and Gandia‐Valencia), and three sewage sludge from a tou...

Reducing nitrogen losses by decreasing mineral fertilisation in horticultural crops of eastern Spain

Abstract Three experiments were carried out using horticultural plants (artichoke, cabbage and potato) in southeast Spain (Alicante) for two cropping seasons. A reduced mineral fertilisation treatment (− N, less than 300 kg N ha −1 ) was compared with the traditional input of nitrogen (+N, around 500 kg N ha −1 ) to evaluate the losses of mineral forms in the soil profile, quantity of plant nitrogen and yield. Three plots were used. Nitrate, ammonium and organic N were measured in the soil profile at four depths (0–30, 30–60, 60–90 and 90–120 cm), and amounts of plant nitrogen in the aerial and edible parts of the plant evaluated, together with the marketable yields in each season. Nitrogen losses were reduced, especially in the second season, but plant nitrogen and yield were not significantly affected.

Tomato plant nutrition as affected by arsenite concentration

Abstract As a part of a general study of environmental contamination by arsenic (As), the effects caused by arsenite on the processes of uptake and accumulation of macronutrient elements calcium (Ca), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) in tomato plants (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill, cultivar Marmande) were studied. Tomato plants were grown in nutrient solution (hydroponic growing system) containing three levels of As (added as sodium arsenite, NaAsO2): 2, 5, and 10 mg As L‐1. One control, with no As addition, was also included. Vegetative growth and fruit yield were affected by As level in the nutrient solution. Plant growth, expressed as dry and fresh weights of leaves and roots, were significantly restricted by As. Fresh fruit production decreased to 60.7, 47.3, and 23.3% at 2, 5, and 10 mg As L‐1, respectively, compared to control. Contamination by As caused changes in both concentration and uptake of all the macronutrients studied. A reduction in the root concentration of ...

The influence of organic amendment and nickel pollution on tomato fruit yield and quality

The effects of organic fertilization (sludge application) and/or different levels of Ni pollution on tomato fruit yield, quality, nutrition, and Ni accumulation were investigated. The mass loading of sewage sludge solids used in this study for the amendment of a calcareous soil with low organic matter content was 2% (w/w). A control with no sewage sludge amendment was also included (S). Nickel was added to the sludge amended soil at 0, 60, 120 and 240 mg kg-1 concentrations. Sewage sludge addition to the calcareous soil significantly increased fruit yield but did not adversely affect the quality and nutritional status of the tomato fruit. The results demonstrated that sewage sludge could be successfully used as a horticultural fertilizer. Only the highest addition rate of Ni (240 mg kg-1) to an organic amended calcareous soil had negative effects on fruit yield and quality, and caused a Ni accumulation in fruit that could be considered as a hazard for human health. Thus, no toxic problems will be encountered in tomato fruit due to Ni pollution provided the total Ni (soil Ni plus Ni incorporated with sludge amendment) concentration is kept below the maximum concentration of Ni allowed for agricultural alkaline soils in Spain (112 mg Ni kg-1).

Tomato fruit yield and quality are affected by organic and inorganic fertilization and cadmium pollution

Abstract The effects of different concentrations of cadmium (Cd) (0, 3, 30, and 100 mg.kg‐1) and different fertilizers on the yield and quality of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill cv. Marmande) fruits were evaluated in a calcareous soil (Haploxeroll calcic). Two types of fertilizer were applied, one organic with the addition of sewage sludge and other inorganic with amounts of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) equivalent to those due to the sewage sludge incorporation. Plants fertilized with sewage sludge produced the highest yield. Very little difference was found in fruit quality due to fertilization and the presence of Cd had no significant effect on yield and quality of fruit.

Optimization of the addition of FeEDDHA to calcareous soils.

Abstract We have obtained an empirical equation, C