Summary
This field trial compared tomato yield and quality under soilless (hydroponic) and in-soil production at two South African sites, testing three cultivars in soilless systems (Mercury, Merya, Star 9037) and one in soil (SV4129). Soilless production yielded higher total yields with faster plant development; Mercury cultivar showed the most promising performance for yield and quality under soilless conditions, whilst Merya excelled in sugar content. The findings suggest that soilless cultivation can improve horticultural outcomes when coupled with appropriate cultivar selection.
Regional applicability
The study was conducted in South Africa under semi-controlled environments and is directly applicable to horticultural production in similar climatic and agronomic contexts. Transferability to United Kingdom conditions would require consideration of different seasonal growing patterns, light availability, and climate control infrastructure, though the general principle that cultivar selection matters for soilless tomato production is widely relevant.
Key measures
Marketable yield, unmarketable yield, total soluble solids (°Brix), pH of tomato juice
Outcomes reported
The study compared marketable and unmarketable yield, total soluble solids (°Brix), and pH of tomato juice between soilless (hydroponic) and in-soil cultivation systems across different cultivars. Results showed that soilless systems produced higher total yields and faster plant development, with cultivar-specific differences in sugar content and juice pH.
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