Nitrogen form affects yield and taste of tomatoes

Summary

Abstract Different nitrogen forms in organic or mineral fertilizers affect yield, quality and taste of tomatoes. Tomato plants were grown in a greenhouse for 10 weeks and fertilized with two different organic fertilizers (manure or grass and clover mulch) or with three different mineral nutrient solutions (NO3−:NH4+) ratios 4:1 or 1:4). In an attempt to mimic the nutrient supply of the organic production systems, mineral fertilizers with ammonium as the dominating N‐source were combined with two chloride levels. Total nitrogen supply was 650 mg N plant−1 week−1 in all treatments. There was no difference in the yield of red tomatoes between the treatments (mean 1.95 kg FW plant−1). However, the yield of green tomatoes at the final harvest was significantly higher in the mineral nutrient tre