Summary
This paper describes development and field validation of a non-destructive on-site NIR spectroscopy system for real-time monitoring of internal quality parameters (dry matter and starch) in growing tomato fruits under soilless cultivation. The system incorporates temperature compensation to account for field conditions and uses measured fruit properties to predict final soluble solids content, enabling dynamic adjustment of nutrient solution composition to achieve target fruit quality. This approach offers a practical tool for precision management of soilless tomato production systems.
Regional applicability
The methodology is directly applicable to UK protected horticulture and controlled environment agriculture, which commonly employ soilless culture systems for high-value horticultural crops including tomatoes. The non-destructive monitoring approach aligns with precision growing techniques increasingly adopted in UK commercial greenhouse operations, though validation in UK climate conditions and cultivars would strengthen local applicability.
Key measures
Dry matter (DM) content, starch content, soluble solids content (SSC), temperature-compensated NIR calibration models, electrical conductivity (EC) of nutrient solution
Outcomes reported
The study developed and validated an on-site near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy system for non-destructive measurement of dry matter and starch content in growing tomato fruits, with temperature compensation algorithms. The system's predictions of these parameters were used to forecast final soluble solids content (SSC) in ripe fruits, enabling real-time feedback control of nutrient solution composition.
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