Effects of soil types and nitrogen fertilizer doses on some chemical characteristics of tomato, sweet corn and pepper

Abstract

Our research project was aimed at the description of the nitrogen and carbon flows in soils and vegetable cultures. As a part of this project we made our experiments in the nursery garden of our Institute (Kecskemét College, Faculty of Horticulture), using irrigated and fertilized lysimeters. Three different soil types (sandy, alluvial and chernozem soils) were studied. At constant phosphorus and potassium fertilizer doses (P6o:K]2o), four different nitrogen doses (0, 60, 120 and 180 kg.ha-1 N) were used. Total N levels and other parameters were determined in two harvesting times in tomato (type K-549) and sweet corn (variety 'Spirit') as well. According to other parameters of the tested vegetables, organic acid contents increased in tomato berry on sandy and alluvial soils at higher nitrogen fertilizer doses. Sugar content was higher in tomato grown on alluvial and chernozem soils. Nitrogen doses decreased sugar contents in chernozem in the case of both vegetables. The increase in vitamin C levels of tomato in sandy soil was slight due to higher nitrogen doses. The highest sugar content in sweet corn was measured due to farmyard manure treatment. According to green and red pepper test plants, the effect of nitrogen fertilizer (ammonium-nitrate) and barnyard manure on crop mass seemed to be highly positive in our experiments.