Effect of Date-Palm Waste as Growing Media on the Growth of Tomato

An experiment studying the effect of differently prepared palm waste-based substrates on the growth of tomato plants were carried out under greenhouse conditions. The experiment was conducted as split factorial in a completely randomized block design with 9 treatments and 4 replications. Treatments were three composting times (C) and three sizes (S) of palm waste included: C1S1= (size 0-0.5 cm + 0 month composted), C2S1= (size 0-0.5 cm + 3 months composted), C3S1= (size 0-0.5 cm + 6 months composted), C1S2= (size 0.5-1 cm + 0 month composted), C2S2= (size 0.5-1 cm + 3 months composted), C3S2= (size 0.5-1 cm + 6 months composted), C1S3= (size 1-2 cm + 0 month composted), C2S3= (size 1-2 cm + 3 months composted), C3S3= (size 1-2 cm + 6 months composted). During cultivation, the Papadopolus formula was used as fertigation solution. Leaf macro nutrients content (N, P, K, Ca and Mg), root dry weight and plant height differed significantly depending on composting time, particle size and their interactions. The highest macro elements in leaves were related to size 0.5-1cm and 6 months composted. Maximum root dry weight and plant height were observed in palm waste without composting time and size 1-2 cm. Nevertheless, no effect was found on stem diameter. The result of this research indicated that the composting time and size of the growing media determine the amounts of growing indexes and the nutrient status in tomato plants.