Ayman Mustafa*⁽¹⁾ and Riad Baladia⁽²⁾

(1). Rural Damascus Scientific Agricultural Research Centre, General Commission of Scientific Agriculture Research (GCSAR), Damascus, Syria.
(2). Rural Engineering Department, Faculty of Agriculture. Damascus University, Damascus, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Eng. Ayman Mustafa. Rural Damascus Scientific Agricultural Research Centre, General Commission of Scientific Agriculture Research (GCSAR), Damascus, Syria. E-mail: aymanmustafa1983@gmail.com).

Received: 22 / 01 / 2015                                 Accepted: 11/ 2 / 2015

Abstract:

A field experiment was conducted in Al-Nashabiya Research Station in split plot design aimed to study the effect of salinity irrigation water and potassium fertilization on qualitative characteristics of tomato fruits for two seasons 2008-2009. Salinity irrigation water levels were (I =1.06, II =1.95 and III =2.83 dS/m). potassium fertilization levels were (K₀=0, K₁=150 and K₂=300 kg potassium oxide/ha). Results showed that the increasing of salinity irrigation water increased tomato fruit dry matter weight, total soluble solids and sugars, and decreased pH value, compared with fresh water irrigated treatments. Furthermore, the application of supplemental potassium fertilizer led to higher percentages of tomato fruit dry matter weight, total soluble solids and sugars, and lower pH value, compared with those unfertilized with potassium. The highest percentages of fruit dry matter weight, total soluble solids and sugars, and the lowest value of fruit pH, were gained by the treatment III K₂. Therefore, qualitative characteristics of tomato fruits can be improved by application of supplemental potassium fertilizer in saline irrigation conditions.

Key words: Tomato, Salinity water, Potassium fertilization, Qualitative characteristics.

Full paper in Arabic :تأثير ملوحة مياه الري في تحسين المواصفات النوعية لثمار البندورة عند استخدام مستويات مختلفة من السماد البوتاسي