Evaluation of the Nutrients Uptake by Tomato Plants in Different Phenological Stages Using an Electrical Conductivity Technique

Ilie Bodale, Gabriela Mihalache, Vladut Achiţei, Gabriel-Ciprian Teliban, Ana Cazacu and Vasile Stoleru
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Ilie Bodale: Department of Sciences, “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 700440 Iasi, Romania
Gabriela Mihalache: Integrated Center of Environmental Science Studies in the North Eastern Region (CERNESIM), The “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, 700506 Iasi, Romania
Vladut Achiţei: Department of Horticultural Technologies, “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 700440 Iasi, Romania
Gabriel-Ciprian Teliban: Department of Horticultural Technologies, “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 700440 Iasi, Romania
Ana Cazacu: Department of Sciences, “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 700440 Iasi, Romania
Vasile Stoleru: Department of Horticultural Technologies, “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 700440 Iasi, Romania

Agriculture, 2021, vol. 11, issue 4, 1-12

Abstract: Nutrient consumption by plants depends on the growth stage and environmental conditions. In general, plants take up species of elements at different speeds. We monitored and recorded the electrical charge flow through xylem sap of tomato plants (Brillante F1) using femto/picoammeter equipment (Keysight B2981A). This technique evaluates the nutrient uptake of tomato treated with the most common macronutrients (KNO 3 ; KH 2 PO 4 ; Ca(NO 3 ) 2 ; KCl) by monitoring the electrical conductivity for 24 h. The electrical conductivity of each treatment correlated with the plant growth and development stages. The results showed that the tomato plants had a high consumption of nutrients in the vegetative stage, while in other stages, they had a specific consumption, like phosphorus for bulb formation, potassium for increasing the number of flowers and water for the ripening of fruits. The quantitative evaluation of the ions absorbed by the plant was based on the magnitude and shape of the electrical conductivity curves. Our technique is an efficient method to determine nutrient consumption and is useful in predicting the deficiency of a certain element in tomato plants.

Keywords: plant electrical signal; plant electrical conductivity; tomato plants; chemical fertilization; electrical charge flow (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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