Parcelamento da dose de fertilizantes e adubação foliar suplementar com boro e cálcio sobre aspectos qualitativos e quantitativos da cultura do tomate

Abstract

Tomato cultivation (Solanum lycopersicum L.) stands out worldwide due to its economic and nutritional importance and is widely grown in various regions. Proper fertilization management is essential to ensure vegetative development, productivity, and fruit quality. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of fertilizer dose splitting applied via fertigation and foliar fertilization with boron and calcium on qualitative and quantitative aspects of tomato cultivation. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse at the Erechim campus of the Federal University of Fronteira Sul, using the cultivar ‘Bartô’ in a randomized block design with four replications, arranged in a 3 × 2 factorial scheme. The treatments consisted of three fertilization schedules (full dose at planting with two top-dressings, monthly splitting, and weekly splitting) and two levels of foliar application (with and without boron and calcium). Growth variables (plant height), production (number of fruits, number of flowers, yield, and fruit weight), and fruit quality (soluble solids content °Brix and titratable acidity) were evaluated. Results showed that plant height was significantly greater in the treatments with weekly fertilization, while the number of fruits showed no significant difference. Yield also did not differ statistically among the fertilization systems, although weekly splitting showed a trend toward better results. Regarding fruit quality, soluble solids content was significantly higher in the treatments without foliar application. Fruit acidity was not affected by the treatments. It was also observed that the weekly fertilization system with foliar application was more efficient in maintaining a more consistent cluster production throughout the cycle, while the other treatments presented more pronounced oscillations. The number of flowers, clusters, and fruits per plant also did not differ statistically. Weekly splitting was more efficient, resulting in greater plant height and number of flowers. However, for fruits per plant, total soluble solids, and citric acidity, no significant differences were found.