Effect of Tea Waste and Zeolite as a Growing Substance in Soilless Culture on Growth and Quality of Tomato Fruit

Recently, water deficiency, existence of soil-borne pathogens and low fruit yield and quality which produced in soil culture systems lead to develop hydroponic systems. In the present study, effect of five different growing media including tea waste, tea waste + zeolite (1:1), tea waste + zeolite (3:1), tea waste + zeolite (1:3), zeolite + perlite (1:2) (v/v) as a soilless growing media on tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum, cv. gavrish) growth and fruit quality was investigated. The results showed that the kind of growing media have significantly affected on stem height, root length and fruits quality characteristics such as firmness, vitamin C, total phenol and antioxidant capacity of tomato. Conversely, stem diameter, fruit numbers and fruits color value was unaffected by growing media. With increasing tea waste to zeolite ratio, stem height and root length decreased, as the most stem height was found in zeolite: perlite (1:2) medium. Moreover, positive correlation between total phenol and antioxidant capacity of fruits was observed. Overall, the results showed that using tea waste alone or incorporation with zeolite can be a suitable medium for growing tomato.