Journal of Bio-Environment Control ISSN:1229-4675(Print) 2765-3641(Online) 생물환경조절학회지

In hydroponics, the nutrient solution is supplied considering the water and nutrient uptake characteristics of crops. However, as the ionic uptake characteristics are changed as a result of the weather conditions or the growth response of the crops, the root zone can not be maintained in optimal condition. In addition, the coir substrate has been used mainly for the tomato cultivation in place of the inorganic substrate, there are few studies on long-term cultivation using coir substrate. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the effect of EC level of irrigation solution on tomato growth and inorganic ions of root zone in soilless culture using coir. Coir substrate mixed with 5 : 5 chip and dust was used. EC level of irrigation solution was 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 3.0 dS·m^-1. At the initial stage, NO₃-N, P, Ca and Mg in the drainage were lower than the irrigation level at 1.0 and 1.5 dS·m^-1. However, EC 2.0 dS·m^-1 or higher, all the ions except P were highly concentrated in the drainage. The average fruit weight was not significantly different between 1.0 and 1.5 dS·m^-1 until 3th cluster, but from the next cluster, the higher the EC level, the smaller the weight. The number of fruit and yield to 6th cluster was the highest at 1.5dS·m^-1. From the next cluster, The yield was decreased with the higher EC level. At the early stage of growth, BER occurred only in EC 3.0 dS·m^-1, but increased in all treatments with increasing irradiation. The incidence rate of EC 3.0 dS·m^-1 was higher than that of the lower EC level treatment.