AGRI-LITE™ PRODUCT UPDATE
June 1998
INTRODUCTION
This report updates the ones sent in March and
May, 1998, and presents final data for trial #1 of the comparison
between Agri-LITE™, Rockwool, Perlite and Sunshine Mix media.
RESULTS
The Plants:
General Observations: Plants in all
treatments grew well beyond the tops of the support wires and were
trained over the tops of the wires to produce an "arbor" effect. Note
that, in normal commercial cultivation plants would be "leaned and
lowered," keeping the top two meters or so o f the plant below the
wires. However, due to confirmed space in the 24' x 15' greenhouse
available, plants were not "leaned or lowered." Trial #2 will be
conducted in a larger greenhouse with sufficient room for proper
culture.
Tomato Yields:
Data reported here includes all data from
inception to termination of the experiment on 16 June 1998.
Fruit was harvested two times per week, from
April to 16 June. Table 1 gives tomato fruit yield information for both
#1 fruits (good shape/form, no blemishes) and #2 fruits (could have odd
shapes, including "boats," and some scars).
Fruit from plants grown on the Agri-LITE™ were
comparable to those from plants grown on Perlite. Both of these
treatments produced slightly fewer but larger #1 fruit than plants
grown on Rockwool. Sunshine Mix produced fewer #1 fruit per plant and
had a higher percentage of #2 fruit than any other treatment and will
therefore be excluded from the next trial.
Plants grown in Agri-LITE™ in he guard rows
(higher light, slightly warmer temperatures), produced much larger
fruit and more kilos per plant than any other treatment, inlcuding
Rockwool.
All treatments showed a decrease in average fruit
weight over time (data not given).
Tomato Taste Tests:
In two out of three taste tests performed,
participants preferred tomatoes from plants grown in Agri-LITE™ to
those from plants grown in Rockwool.
DISCUSSION
Agri-LITE™ appears to be a very good media for
tomato production. Trial #2 will be conducted in a larger greenhouse
(24' x 48'), which will alleviate the culture problems previously
encountered and allow for two replicates of each treatment.
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