Abstract

VILLARREAL-ROMERO, Manuel et al. Soil cover crop, vermicompost and soil microbial activity in the tomato production. Rev. Mex. Cienc. Agríc [online]. 2010, vol.1, n.2, pp.217-231. ISSN 2007-0934.

The combined effect of N, P and K chemical fertilizers with vermicompost was studied in tomato planting, vegetation cover of the soil with Mucuna pruriens and minimal farming; in contrast to the conventional farming system with chemical fertilizers and plastic soil padding, for plant nutrition, measurement of some fruit quality parameters and soil microbial activity from 2007 to 2008. The tomato underwent five treatments in two types of crop management. Results showed similar yields and postharvest fruit yields (firmness and weight loss) and absorption of N, P, K, Ca and Mg by the tomato plants, between conventional farming and the use of vegetation cover, minimum farming and fertilization with vermicompost plus 250 N-55 P-100 K. The fruits from treatment T2 displayed appropriate behavior in firmness and weight loss in the postharvest study, and this result was statistically equal to the fruits of treatment T5 during the study. The M. pruriens plants accumulated nitrogen fixed from the atmosphere and residual nitrogen from the soil in an important amount en its biomass, keeping it available for the tomato. The mychorrhizal colonization in tomato plants and the release of CO2 from the soil were higher with the vegetation cover and vermicompost than the conventional handling of the crop.

Keywords : Mucuna pruriens; organic manure; postharvest quality; soil microorganisms.