Lec11 Crop+Management+for+Selected+Fruit+Vege+Using+Soilless+Culture

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Management of Fruit Vegetables Using

Soilless Culture System


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most commonly grown fruit vegetables using Nutrient Film

soilless culture using Coconut Dust Culture in the tropics are

tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and melons. Good of hydroponic - yield improvement, no crop failure due to

the climatic limitation and soil borne pathogens.

E . Pseudomonas solanecearum is one of the soil borne

pathogens which is found abundantly in tropical soil causingbacterial wilt in most solanaceas

The unpredictable weather often causes crop failure or loss

quality due to disorders on the fruit vegetables.

under lowland condition, these vegetables are now grown

extensively grown using soilless culture under protected

structures. The crop management of the fruit vegetables is

discussed


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Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) - using

hydroponics systems in protected environment.

classified in Family Solaneceae.

two distinct species for tomatoes namely Lycopersicon

esculentum Mill, the cultivated species and the

Lycropesicon pennelli., considered to wild species and yetto be explored for crop improvement program.

In the tropics, tomatoes are cultivated in the highlands or

in the cooler region.

There is few limitation for cultivation of tomatoes usingopen field cultivation. E.g. soil borne pathogens, weather

which affect fruit quality and poor yield.

In the lowland, high day and night temperature will affectfruit set and result to low production.


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Tomato seeds are pre-germinated in petri dishes lined with moist

filter paper 24-36 h before planting out.

Seeds are sown in growing media blocks of either rockwool or spongeif a tomato is to be grown in NFT.

Seeds can be directly sown in processed peat mixture in the seedling

tray if soilless culture substrate is to be used a method of growing

plants. The seedling tray is covered with old newsprint to maintain high

humidity for seed germination. When seedlings began to emerge, this

cover is removed.

Seedlings are to be raised in nursery for at least 3 weeks. Growing

seedlings must be exposed to at least 80% radiation (Photosynthetic

Active Radiation) and the growth media is to be kept moist at all time.

Under low humidity condition, Arial misting is required.

Management of seedlings at nursery is critical to obtain short and

healthy tomato seedlings to be transplanted in the system.


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The seedlings are ready to be transplanted into thesystem when first flower bud just emerges. At thisstage , healthy seedlings should not exceeded 25 cmtall and with 7-8 leaves already formed.

In NFT system, seedlings must be kept moist with

In substrate culture, seedlings must be irrigated tofull substrate capacity after transplanting. 20-40 gpeat mixture is placed in the transplanting hole whentomato seedlings are to be transplanted in the

Coconut Coir Dust Culture. This will eliminatetransplanting shock especially under prevailing hightemperature and low relative humidity. Transplantingis normally to be carried out at late afternoon.


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After 7 days after transplanting, full strength of nutrient is

supplied to the plants.

The EC of the nutrient solution should be maintained at 20-25CF.

In NFT growing plants , water loss is rapid ,hence EC should

.

In substrate culture, nutrient is provided by fertigation at least

4 times a day with 10 minute per fertigation cycle depends in

on the weather condition. On rainy days or under high

humidity , fertigation can be done for 2-3 times daily. Toavoid, accumulation of nutrients in the substrate, fertigation is

done only for 3-4 days, whilst the remaining days of the week,

only water is supplied to the plant. Using this management

practices, fertilizer cost can be reduced considerably.


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Each stem is trained to grow upward by twinning around the nylonstring tied to overhead support.

Training can start when plants reaching 25 cm and continue untilthe desired height for crop production. Tomato plants can attain alength of more than 10 m during the growing season but only thetop 2-3 m carry the leaves, flowers and fruits.

Training system is important in determining the efficiency ofresources or pro uct on o t e ru ts.

In the tropics, it is more economical for hire wire training systemin which tomato plants are trained upward reaching the maximumheight of at least 2.0 m.

Topping is done when the plants reach the upper limit by leaving3 leaves above the final fruit truss.

Axillary shoot should be removed to avoid excessive vegetativegrowth. This can be done by bending the shoot sharply to oneside until it snapped and the pulled off in opposite direction.Removing side shoot or auxiliary shoots will balance the partitionof assimilate that affect the flowering and fruit setting in tomatoes.


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Under protected environment, assisted pollination isrequired to trigger fruit set. Various fruiting chemicaltreatments can be used to assist fruit setting. E.g :

1. 4-cholro-2-hydroxymethyl phenoxy acetic acid2. sodium 4-chlorohydroxymethyl phenoxyacetic

Trylone and tomatlane , respectively. O.5% of thischemicals is sprayed on opened flowers in theearly morning on every third days to assistpollination.

3. Other methods include the used of artificialpollinators , honey bees and electronic bee(vibrator).


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Fruits are harvested at early stage of ripening. Theconversion of tomato fruit from mature green to fullyripe state involves dramatic changes in colour ,composition, aroma, flavor and texture. Harvestingstage has a close relationship with the market of

For long distance market, tomato fruits can beharvested at 66-34% green (34-66% orange) whilstfor short distance market, fruit can be harvested ateither 100 % bright red or orange turning red stage.

Harvesting can be done manually early morning orlate afternoon. Leaves below the fruit truss should beremoved once all fruit from the fruit truss beenharvested.


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Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) belongs to Family Cucurbitaceae or

Gourd Family.

This annual vegetable has vines spreading with triangular ovateleaves , 8-14 cm long and 3-lobbed. It has staminate and pistillate

flowers, yellow , about 2-3 cm across, are axillary , the staminate

being numerous.

roug ree ng , t ere s erent s ape o cucum ers

available for cultivation. The local cucumber variety has a

cylindrical shape between 10-20 cm long, with light green colour.

Other cultivar commonly grown in the temperate and sub-

tropical region has longer fruits with more than 30 cm of

telegraphic-type and dark green in colour. The later cultivar iscommonly grown in hydroponics system in the tropics. The plants

are gynoenious and the cultivars are commonly parthenocarpic.

It is generally known as Japanese cucumber or seedless

cucumber.


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Similar procedure as in tomato seed

preparation can be followed. However,the growth of seeds is vigorous that the

- .

After the first shoots emerge, the

seedlings must be placed under light

condition to prevent stem etiolating.


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The plants are trained to single stem and maleflowers are pruned up to about 10 nodes.

Assisted pollination is not required as insectssuch as are leaves of cucumbers are good habitatfor pollinators such as beetles.

m m n n n ntomatoes can be adopted in cultivation ofcucumbers.

Pruning should be done from the first to thefourth auxilary shoot. Leaf pruning should becarried out after harvesting of fruits.


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Harvesting can be done 30-40 days after

transplanting. Fruits are graded in threecategories according to the angle ofcurvature.

The Grade A fruits are those fruits with the

angel of curvature less than100whereas forGrade B fruit are those angel of curvature

between 10-200.

Rejected fruit are those fruit that aredeformed with angle of curvature more than300.


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1. Fruit with high degree of curvature is a

common problem for cucumber grown inthe tropics. The deformed fruits may resultfrom incomplete pollination due to hightem erature stress revailin the rowth

period.2. Fruit crack is not common but can occur

under prevailing high temperatureinterspersed with high humidity.

3. In NFT , root death can occur at the fruitingstage.


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The feature of cucumber leaves with large

surface area is a good habitat for the insect,which is either beneficial or harmful to theplants.

A hids and mites are common and ma

cause complete damage to the leaves if leftunchecked.The high humidity experienced under

protected structure in the tropics often

result in fungal related disease such asPowdery Mildew, Downy Mildew and fungal

wilt.


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Melon (Cucumis melo) can also be grown successfully inhydroponics systems.

It belongs to Family Cucurbiatceae with vines spreading,hairy and leaves between 6-15 cm long and deeply heartedshaped. It has yellow flowers and there are two type ofmelon differentiate by the type of fruit produced.

Reticulatus. All fruits with the features of smooth waxysurface and with whitish colour flesh are categorized asIndorus.

In contrast, fruits with netted or cork-liked tissuedeveloped at maturity which cover the surface and

possessed light green flesh is categorized asReticulatus. The latter melon type is commonly grown in hydroponics

system due to the high quality feature.


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Seeds can be sown directly in the peat mix

and placed under dark conditions. Oninitiation of germination, seedlings are to betransferred to 80% radiation interceptionan eave un rs - rue eaves orme .

Careful husbandry includes moisture, pestmanagement, humidity and radiationrequirements should be observed at

nursery stage.


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Similar to other fruit vegetables, melonseedlings can directly transplant intosubstrate culture.

Half strength of nutrient solution is appliedat the first week of lant rowth in the

substrate culture.Pest management should be carried out at

this stage especially when aphids and mitesare found on the lower part of the leaves.

This can be done manually by soakingleaves in detergent solution or by sprayinglow dosage of insecticide.


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After one week of plants in the system, solutionconcentration of 20-25 CF can be supplied to the

plants. Nutrient solution is fertigated via drippers 3-4 times for 10

minutes duration at vegetative growth stage

At fruit developmental stage, fertigation is carriedout for a longer duration of at least 20 minutes toavoid plant water stress.

In NFT system, pH of the nutrient solution maychange rapidly and it is important to maintain pHbetween 5.5-6.0 to avoid deficiency symptoms ofmicroelements such as B, Mn and Fe.


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for the plants to grow upwards and terminal growth is stoppedafter plant reaching 30-35 leaves stage.

Pruning of side and auxiliary shoot is carried out throughout thegrowth period.

In melon, pruning is not to be carried out on side shoots betweenleaves 9 to 12. All the side shoots that produced female flowerstogether with two shoots.

u ng t e stamen to t e st gma o ema e ower per orms

assisted pollination. Assisted pollination is done early in themorning to ensure viability of pollen and successful pollination.

After 8-10 days after pollination, fruit will start to formed and twouniform fruits is chosen for each plant while other fruits areremoved.

Nylon string is used to tie the fruits and support to the overheadwire. Since fruit growth is rapid and due to weight increased, it isadvisable to have strong overhead supporting wire to support thedeveloping fruit in the protected structure.


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Fruits can be harvested 40-45 days after pollination.

Fruits are considered ready to harvest by observing either

small cracks at the lower end of the fruit or aroma in theplant environment.

At fruit harvesting stage, Reticulatus type had already

showed complete net on the skin of the fruit.

Fruits can be sampled for total soluble solids

determination.

Under normal cultivation, Reticulatus type can produce

fruit with TSS of at least 12% Brix at harvest. Fruits can be stored in cold room for 3-4 days to reach

market. After storage, fruit TSS can be increased to 16%

Brix and it tastes sweeter to be used for desert and

processing for fruit juice.


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Lec11 Crop+Management+for+Selected+Fruit+Vege+Using+Soilless+Culture