Productive and Physico-Chemical Parameters of Tomato Fruits Submitted to Fertigation Doses with Water Treated with Very Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Resonance Fields

Abstract

It is known that poorly performed fertigation directly impacts on tomato production and biometric components. In addition, consumers are also affected by interrelated characteristics that interfere with the acceptability of the fruit, such as the physicochemical parameters and nutrients in the fruit. Thus, eco-friendly technologies, such as irrigation with ultra-low frequency electromagnetic treated-water, which attenuates the inadequate management of fertigation, are essential to improve marketable fruit yields. Thus, the objective of the present work was to investigate the impact of treated water with very low-frequency electromagnetic resonance fields in physical, chemical and nutritional parameters at different nutrient solution strengths in tomato fruits. In this study, experiments were carried out in randomized blocks and five doses of fertigation were used (1.5; 2.5; 4.0; 5.5; and 7.0 dS m−1), employing two types of water: electromagnetically treated and untreated. It can be seen that the fertigation affected some parameters, mainly the number of fruits with blossom-end rot, fruit size, and weight. Variance analysis (ANOVA) was performed with the subsequent use of the Tukey test. In all statistical tests, a confidence level of 95% was considered. The soluble solids content increased by 28% as a function of the fertigation doses. The electromagnetically treated water reduced the number of fruits with blossom-end rot by 35% (p < 0.05). Overall, electromagnetic water improved the physicochemical quality parameters and the nutritional status of tomato fruits. Thus, this study demonstrated that green technology could leverage tomato fruit production and quality.

Effects of Water Deficit on Growth and Productivity in Tomato Crops Irrigated with Water Treated with Very Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Resonance Fields

“…The increase in growth and yield of wheat plants irrigated with magnetic water may be due to changes in the transport of assimilates, enzymatic activity, growth regulators, ions and water uptake [64], and/or an energetic excitation of one or more cellular substrate parameters, such as proteins and carbohydrates [65]. In tomato plants subjected to saline stress, irrigation with WTVLF provided higher plant growth and higher fruit yield [7]. The authors also observed a better nutritional status of the plants, as well as a lower occurrence of blossom-end rot symptoms in the fruits [7].…”

“…Although it can be grown in tropical and subtropical regions [5], the tomato crop is vulnerable to biotic and abiotic stresses [5,6]. Among the environmental factors that most affect tomato growth and productivity, stress due to lack of water (water deficit) stands out [5][6][7][8].…”

“…In this scenario, eco-friendly technologies emerge to investigate ways to efficiently optimize the use of water in agriculture, seeking agricultural and environmental sustainability [21]. Magnetically treated water is considered a technology of great potential, which concerns a process where water passes through a magnetic field, causing changes in its physical and chemical parameters [7]. Studies show that electromagnetically treated water is an interesting alternative, ranging from seed treatment to the growth and development of seedlings, evidencing changes in the properties of magnetized water in the face of increased hydration of ions, promoting an increase in nutrient and water use rates by plants, increasing their productivity and yield [7,22].…”

“…In tomato crops, it has been observed that the use of electromagnetically treated water increases the absorption of nutrients and reduces the occurrence of fruits with symptoms of blossom-end rot [7]. Therefore, we hypothesized that the irrigation of tomato plants with electromagnetically treated water (WTVLF) would reduce the effects of water stress and increase productivity compared to untreated water plants (UNW).…”

Sugar Metabolism and Photosynthesis of Tomatoes Irrigated with Water Treated with Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Resonance Fields in Different Fertigation Doses

“…In addition, studies have already verified changes in water characteristics such as its viscosity, surface tension, light refraction index, electrical conductivity, and light absorption capacity [19], as well as changes in soil characteristics such as moisture and moisture reduction in the applied volume of water in irrigation [20,21]. With the above, the importance of developing studies that seek to explain the behavior of water when exposed to magnetic and electromagnetic treatments is remarkable, as it is noted that studies on these topics are scarce, especially those involving soil salinization [22,23].…”