Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

EFFECT OF RICE STRAW COMPOST UNDER NORMAL AND STRESSFUL CONDITION ON QUALITY OF TOMATOES GROWN IN TWO DIFFERENT MEDIA

HASSAN IBRAHIM ALI MOHD RAZI ISMAIL, MOND MOKHTARUDDIN MANAN AND HALIMI MOHD SAUD

Abstract

Utilization of organic matter amended composts might contribute positively to improve quality aspects without significant reduction in yield, since the world demand is increasing under limited resources. A study was conducted at Hydroponics Unit, UPM, Malaysia to evaluate the use of rice straw compost under two stress cycles with different growing media, namely soilless media {coconut coir dust and peat 3:2} and greenhouse soil {top soil, sand and peat 2:1:2} for improvement of quality of tomatoes grown under protected environment. The experiment was designed as four- by-two factorial in a complete randomized with three replicates. The two factors were water regime {well watered or stress (withhold water)}. Others factors were the media mentioned above with 30% compost or without. Addition of rice straw compost at the rate of 30%, significantly increased fruit dry matter content in both media. However, stress regime significantly increased all fruit quality parameters studied.The results also showed that greenhouse soil media without rice straw compost (St) significantly increased most of the fruit quality indices and carbohydrates. It can be suggested that water stress conditions with the media where high total carbon provided may be feasible crop water management options for producing high quality tomatoes without significant yield reductions.