What the study found
Foliar calcium reduced blossom end rot in tomato fruits, and potato yield increased only when foliar spraying was combined with a prior soil fertilization. The study also reports that the tomato treatment did not significantly change the fresh weight of healthy fruits.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors suggest that foliar mineral nutrition can affect specific crop outcomes, such as fruit disorder control in tomato and yield response in potato. The findings indicate that the effect depends on the crop and, in potato, on previous soil fertilization.
What the researchers tested
In tomato plants of cv. Rosso Mejorado INTA, the researchers sprayed foliage three times starting before blooming in the first cluster with a nutrient solution containing CaCl2 2000 ppm plus several other minerals. In potato plants of cv. Claustar, they applied three foliar sprays at 15-day intervals of a different nutrient solution to young plants, with and without a prior soil fertilization based on ammonium phosphate and ammonium sulfate.
What worked and what didn't
In tomato, the calcium-containing foliar treatment produced a highly significant decrease in fruits affected by blossom end rot. However, it did not significantly increase the fresh weight of healthy fruits compared with the control or with the nutrient solution lacking calcium. In potato, the foliar nutrient solution significantly increased yield only when it followed the soil fertilization, and the higher yield was due to greater tuber weight.
What to keep in mind
The abstract does not describe limitations beyond the conditions tested. The results are specific to the listed tomato and potato varieties, the nutrient mixtures used, and the fertilization conditions reported.
Key points
- Tomato foliage sprayed with a calcium-containing solution showed a highly significant reduction in blossom end rot.
- The tomato treatment did not significantly increase the fresh weight of healthy fruits.
- In potato, foliar spraying increased yield only after prior soil fertilization with ammonium phosphate and ammonium sulfate.
- The potato yield increase was attributed to higher tuber weight.
- The abstract reports results for specific tomato and potato varieties under the tested nutrient schedules.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Foliar calcium reduced tomato blossom end rot
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