The possibility of using dried pine leaves, tire-rubber wastes, mica and rice hull as tomato growth media in soilless culture system

In this research, the possibility of using dried leaves of pine (Pi), tire-rubber wastes (TR) and rice hull (Ri) as tomato growth media in soilless culture system was investigated. Tomato seeds were grown in sterilized sand and after one month, the seedlings were transplanted to various growth media including dried leaves of pine- perlite (Pi:Pe), dried leaves of pine- rubber wastes (Pi:TR), cocopeat- perlite (Co:Pe), perlite- mica (Pe:Mi) and rice hull- perlite (Ri:Pe), each one at two ratios of 50:50 and 75:25. After two months, at the beginning of reproductive stage, tomato plants grown at Pi:Pe and Pi-TR were harvested. Tomato plants in the Co-Pe, Pe:Mi and Ri:Pe treatments were harvested during the reproductive stage. Plant height, root and shoot dry matter, concentration of K, P, and Zn in roots and shoots and fruit yield were measured. Results showed that plant height and root and shoot growth of Pi:Pe and Pi:TR media were significantly less than Co:Pe medium, at both 50:50 and 75:25 ratios. Zn concentration was greater in the Pi:TR medium with 50:50 ratio as compared to other treatments. According to the results, a combination of dried pine leaves and tire rubber wastes as growth media in soilless culture system of tomato had significant limitations such as low ability for retaining water and nutrients and toxicity of Zn released from tire rubber wastes. Therefore, it wouldnt be possible to use a combination of dried pine leaves and tire rubber wastes as growth media in soilless culture system without performing special chemical treatments on them.