Tomatoes

Growth differences evident in tomatoes grown in Minplus-treated soils, compared with the plants in the corresponding untreated soils, included:

• flowered up to 2 weeks earlier,
• set fruit up to 2 weeks earlier,
• produced up to 38 % greater mass of fruit.
  

Minplus and tomatoes Satimbre (2001)

Four Untreated Soils	Same soils treated with Minplus at 10 t/ha

• Minplus applications at the equivalent of 10 t / ha have promoted more vigorous growth of tomato seedlings in 4 different tropical soils.
  
  
• These growth differences were sustained through the life of the plants.

 

 

• The illustrated plants above have grown for 25 days since transplanting into poor soils.
  
  
• Minplus, applied at the equivalent of 10 t/ha to acidic soils of low fertility from the Townsville and Innisfail areas, has enhanced plant growth.
  
  
• Minplus-treated soils produced more rapid growth, earlier flowering, and higher fruit yields than did the untreated soils.

 

Minplus and tomato yields

• Plant yields and fruit sizes were both enhanced by Minplus treatments compared with yields from both the corresponding untreated poor soils and the untreated good soils.
  
  
• Average yields of fruit (g / plant):
  • 22 – 38 % higher in Minplus-treated poor soils;
  • 27 – 35 % higher in Minplus-treated good soils.
    
    
• Average mass of fruit (g):
  • 20 – 22 % higher in Minplus-treated poor soils;
  • 8 – 19 % higher in Minplus-treated good soils.
    
    
• Minplus enhanced plant yields from both the poor soils (as expected) and the good soils (unexpected).

 

Experiments conducted by James Cook University.
Report by M. E. Burton