Calcium, Iron, Potassium, Phosphorus, and Vitamin C Content of Organic and Hydroponic Tomatoes

Summary

Two tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cultivars were grown in two organic and two inorganic media to evaluate the effects upon the levels of Ca, Fe, K, P, and vitamin C in the fruit. 'Platense' tomato was grown in a glasshouse, on sand or peat-perlite (hydroponic substrates) irrigated with a complete solution of macro and microelements, or on 100% vermicompost or 50% vermicompost-50% soil (organic substrates) irrigated with water. Fruit were harvested at physiological maturity, and levels of P, K, Ca, Fe, and vitamin C were determined. Fruit grown on organic substrates contained significantly more Ca and vitamin C and less Fe than did fruit grown on hydroponic media. Phosphorus and K content did not differ between fruit from organic and hydroponic substrates.