A soilless experiment was conducted in the MAIB greenhouse to evaluate the effects of three composts (Food waste, Green waste and Posidonia Oceanica debris-based compost), used as growing substrate component at different proportions, on tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum, cv Antonella F1) growth and yield. Four growing media (treatments) were compared: PE-TO (perlite 50% + peat 50%), used as control treatment; COM-FOOD (food waste compost 50% + perlite 25% + peat 25%); COM-GREEN (green waste compost 50% + perlite 25% + peat 25%); COM-PO (Posidonia debris compost 50% + perlite 25% + peat 25%). Plants grown on compost-based substrates showed adequate performance in terms of growth. Growth parameters showed, in general higher values in compost-based treatments. Total marketable yield was 22% lower with PE-TO as compare to COM-FOOD.
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Elemental leaf tissue composition was similar in control and compost treatments, as for the principal macro and micro nutrients. However, plants grown on Posidonia compost showed very high levels of boron, as a result of the high concentration of the elements in the substrate. In conclusion, use of compost with adequate properties could represent a good low cost alternative for soilless substrates composition.
