USE OF COMPOSTS AND VERMICOMPOSTS FOR THE ORGANIC PRODUCTION OF TOMATO IN GREENHOUSES

The use of organic substrates is an alternative in sustainable agriculture The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of three composts and three vermicomposts mixed at three different proportions (100, 75 and 50%) with sand, in the tomato fruit yield under greenhouse conditions. The tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L) hybrid SUN-7705 was used A 6x3 factorial arrangement was used The 18 treatments were distributed in a randomized design with five replicates in two sowing dales Significant differences (p <= 0,01) were detected among sowing dates The results indicated that the best seven mixtures were Vermicompost of cattle manure + corn stover + black earth (VEMT) 75% + sand, vermicompost of cattle manure + bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flugge) + black earth (VEPT) 100, 75 y 50% + sand, vermicompost of cattle manure + corn stover + black earth (VEMT) 50% + sand; and vermicompost of cattle manure + corn stover + elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schumacher) + black earth (VEMZT) 100 and 75% + sand, with an average of 54 527ton ha(-1) Larger fruits were obtained with vermicompost VEMT 75% + sand The highest concentrations of soluble solids was observed in VEPT 100% with 5.34 degrees Brix It is concluded that better yields are obtained using organic substrate than those resulting from tomato organic production in the field, without affecting fruit quality