The influence of container volume, solution concentration, pH and aeration on dry matter partition by tomato plants in water culture

Abstract

SummaryWhen containers, each holding a single tomato plant, were continuously supplied with nutrient solution from a common reservoir, the volume of the containers (from 0.65 to 6.00 1) had little influence on the partition of dry matter between cotyledons, roots, stem and leaves, regardless of the time of the year or the frequency of renewal of the solution. Partition was also unaffected by solution pH (between 4 and 8 inclusive) or by the aeration of the solution, although both these factors affected total dry matter. Reducing the solution concentration, however, reduced the proportion of the total dry matter in the roots during the first two weeks of seedling growth but subsequently increased it slightly.