Effect of the Clay Mineral Illite on the Growth of Cherry Tomato in the Bed Soil

This study was initiated to investigate the physical and chemical properties of the clay mineral illite and its effect on the growth of cherry tomato (Hongjak) as affected by the forms and concentrations of illite using the bed soil in the glass house. The composition of illite was analyzed by SEM(scanning electron microscope). The cherry tomato was cultivated in the bed soil in the glass house at Chungbuk National University for 10 weeks of total duration. The application rates of illite used as particulate and powder forms were standard 1:20 (w/w), two times 1:10 (w/w), four times 1:5 (w/w) of standard application, respectively. The surface of illite used in the study appeared to be hexagonal sheet and it included K and the variety of other elements. The growth lengths of cherry tomato were 11-23% greater in the pots treated than in the untreated pots. Based on the analyses of the major cations, K, Ca, and Mg from the cherry tomato the amounts of K taken in the leaf and stem of the cherry tomato were 8-45% and 3-30% greater than untreated pots, respectively. The amount of Ca in the leaf and stem taken up by the cherry tomato were 6-39% and 11-40% greater than untreated pots, respectively. The amounts of Mg in the leaf and stem taken up by the cherry tomato were 17-62% and 19-54% greater than untreated pots, respectively. Based on the analysis for the amount of cations, such as K, Ca, and Mg taken up by cherry tomato in treated and untreated bed soil, it appears that the illite treatment enhanced the early growth of cherry tomato.