The effect of iron supply on the yield and composition of leaves of tomato plants

Summary

This paper describes a factorial experiment which was designed to elucidate the effect of total iron supply and rate of iron supply on the yield of tomato plants. Information was also obtained on the effect of iron supply and leaf age on the concentration of a number of nutrient elements in the leaf tissue.

Increasing the total iron supply increases the yield, and the iron concentration in the leaves, while the manganese, phosphorus, sodium, calcium and magnesium decrease in concentration. The young leaves have a lower concentration of iron, manganese, potassium, sodium, calcium and magnesium than the older leaves, while the reverse is true of nitrogen and phosphorus. A slow rate of iron supply decreases the yield and sodium concentration in the leaves but increases the manganese and phosphorus concentrations.

Interaction between total iron supply and leaf position affects the manganese, potassium, calcium and magnesium concentrations in the leaves, while the interaction between total-iron level and rate of iron supply affects the phosphorus and calcium concentration in the leaves.