Method for improving tomato sugar degree and commercial fruit rate based on root zone volume dynamic regulation and control

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for improving tomato sugar degree and commodity fruit rate based on root zone volume dynamic regulation and control, and belongs to the field of crop cultivation. The method comprises the steps that a substrate cultivation groove with the root zone volume adjustable is arranged, a plurality of opposite face inserting grooves are formed in a cultivation groove body, the vertical face inserting grooves are vertical grooves, and the root zone volume adjustable substrate cultivation groove is formed in the substrate cultivation groove body; two vertical face inserting plates are inserted into each pair of vertical face inserting grooves, two vertical face inserting plates are arranged in each pair of vertical face inserting grooves to serve as partition plates, every two adjacent partition plates form a planting ditch, and every two adjacent planting ditches are spaced according to the interval of a partition; soil or a culture medium is placed in the culture tank body, plants are planted in the partitions according to set plant spacing, the size of a plant root system planting area is changed by adjusting the positions of the vertical face inserting grooves according to the plant growth stage, and root area size regulation and control and irrigation dynamic regulation and control are achieved. While root zone volume regulation and irrigation dynamic regulation are carried out, continuous head changing pruning is synchronously carried out, and the yield and the commodity fruit rate are further increased.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the field of crop cultivation, and particularly relates to a method for improving the sugar content and commercial fruit rate of tomatoes based on dynamic regulation of root zone volume. Background Art

[0002] In recent years, consumer demand for tomato quality has shifted from traditional "storage and transportation durability" to "taste and flavor." Specialty varieties like cherry tomatoes, strawberry tomatoes, and fruit tomatoes have steadily increased their market share. In high-quality tomato production, water-controlled cultivation is the simplest and most widely used quality control technique. This, combined with functional fertilizers, allows for the production of high-quality tomatoes with a superior taste.

[0003] Although water-controlled cultivation improves the quality and taste of tomatoes, it also has problems such as a large decline in yield, especially low commercial fruit rate. At the same time, due to the large soil area and strong buffering capacity, precise water control is difficult to achieve, which has become a bottleneck restricting the large-scale promotion of high-quality tomatoes and the realization of uniform and stable yield quality.

[0004] In short, the current production of high-quality tomato has problems such as difficulty in quality control, large decline in yield, and poor taste uniformity. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In response to the above problems, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for improving the sugar content and commercial fruit rate of tomatoes based on dynamic control of the root zone volume, which is used to solve the problems of the current production of high-quality taste tomatoes, such as the difficulty in quality control, large yield decline, and poor taste uniformity.

[0006] To achieve the above object, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions: The present invention discloses a method for improving the sugar content and commercial fruit rate of tomatoes based on dynamic regulation of root zone volume, comprising: Step A: Setting a substrate cultivation trough with an adjustable root zone volume, the substrate cultivation trough with an adjustable root zone volume comprises a cultivation trough body, a plurality of opposite slots are respectively provided in the cultivation trough body, the opposite slots are vertical grooves, two opposite slots are inserted with two opposite slots, two opposite slots are provided with two opposite slots as partitions, and two adjacent partitions form a planting groove, and each two adjacent planting grooves are separated by a partition interval; Step B: placing soil or a cultivation substrate into the cultivation trough body, planting the plants in the partitions according to the set spacing, and adjusting the positions of a pair of vertical slots according to the plant growth stage to change the volume of the plant root planting area, thereby achieving root zone volume control and irrigation dynamic control; Step C: While carrying out root zone volume control and irrigation dynamic control, continuous re-heading and pruning are carried out simultaneously to further increase yield and commercial fruit rate.

[0007] Preferably, the length of the partition is 5-15 cm.

[0008] In the step B, the period from the time when two ears of fruit turn green and ripen after planting is defined as the early stage, the period from the time when two ears of fruit turn color to the time when five ears of fruit turn green and ripen is defined as the middle stage, and the period from the time when five ears of fruit turn color to the time when the vines are pulled out is defined as the late stage; In the early stage, the volume of the plant root planting area is limited to a partition; In the middle stage, the partitions on one side of the plant are pulled out, one partition is merged with one of the adjacent partitions, the root zone volume is increased, and light to moderate deficit irrigation is regulated; In the later stages, the partitions on the other side of the plant are pulled out and one partition is merged with another adjacent partition to further increase the root zone volume, while medium to heavy deficit irrigation is regulated.

[0009] Preferably, the set plant spacing is 30-40 cm.

[0010] In step C, the method of continuous top-changing and pruning is: pinching the top after the second bunch of fruits, leaving side branches; pinching the top again after the second bunch of fruits on the side branches, leaving side branches, and so on, so as to further improve the yield and commercial fruit rate.

[0011] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects: The present invention discloses a method for improving the sugar content and commercial fruit rate of tomatoes based on dynamic regulation of root zone volume, comprising: providing a substrate cultivation trough with adjustable root zone volume, respectively providing a plurality of opposite slots in the cultivation trough body, the opposite slots being vertical grooves, two opposite slots being inserted into each opposite slot, two opposite slots being provided in each opposite slot as partitions, and two adjacent partitions forming a planting ditch, wherein each two adjacent planting trenches are spaced apart by a spacing of a partition; placing soil or cultivation substrate into the cultivation trough body, planting plants in the partition according to a set plant spacing, adjusting the position of a pair of opposite slots according to the plant growth stage to change the volume of the plant root planting area, thereby realizing root zone volume regulation and irrigation dynamic regulation; while performing root zone volume regulation and irrigation dynamic regulation, simultaneously carrying out continuous re-heading and pruning, thereby further improving yield and commercial fruit rate. The present invention provides a method for improving tomato sugar content and marketable fruit yield based on dynamic root zone volume control. Through the technical innovation of dynamic root zone volume control and composite agronomic measures, the root zone volume is dynamically adjusted according to the plant growth period, and gradient water control irrigation technology is used to achieve improved tomato quality and marketable fruit yield while ensuring quality uniformity. This solves the current problems in the production of high-quality and flavorful tomatoes, such as the difficulty in quality control, large yield declines, and poor taste uniformity. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Figure 1This is an internal perspective view of a substrate cultivation trough with adjustable root zone volume provided in Example 1 of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a view of the inner wall of the rear side plate of the substrate cultivation trough with adjustable root zone volume provided in Example 1 of the present invention; Figure 3 1 is a plan view of a substrate cultivation trough with adjustable root zone volume provided in Example 1 of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a side view of a substrate cultivation trough with adjustable root zone volume provided in Example 1 of the present invention; Figure 5 Schematic diagram of changing the volume of the plant root planting area according to the plant growth stage provided by Example 2 of the present invention, wherein Figure 5 (a), (b), and (c) are the volumes of the plant root planting area at the early, middle, and late stages, respectively.

[0013] Description of reference numerals: 1- cultivation trough body, 10- bottom plate, 100- bottom return trough; 11- left side plate, 12- right side plate, 13- front side plate, 14- rear side plate; 2-facade plug-in boards, 20-facade slots. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, it should be understood that the present invention can be implemented in various forms and should not be limited by the embodiments described herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided to enable a more thorough understanding of the present invention and to fully convey the scope of the present invention to those skilled in the art.

[0015] In order to solve the problems of great difficulty in quality control, large yield reduction, and poor taste uniformity in the current production of high-quality tomato with a good taste, the present invention discloses a method for improving the sugar content and commercial fruit rate of tomatoes based on dynamic control of the root zone volume, comprising: providing a substrate cultivation trough with adjustable root zone volume, and providing a plurality of opposite slots in the cultivation trough body, wherein the opposite slots are vertical grooves, and two opposite slots are inserted into each opposite slot, and two opposite slots are provided in each opposite slot as partitions, and two adjacent partitions form a planting ditch, and each two adjacent planting trenches are spaced apart by a spacing of a partition; putting soil or cultivation substrate into the cultivation trough body, planting plants in the partition according to a set plant spacing, adjusting the position of a pair of opposite slots according to the plant growth stage to change the volume of the plant root planting area, thereby realizing root zone volume control and dynamic irrigation control; while performing root zone volume control and dynamic irrigation control, simultaneously carrying out continuous head replacement and pruning to further improve the yield and commercial fruit rate. This invention provides a method for improving tomato sugar content and marketable fruit yield based on dynamic regulation of root zone volume. Through the technical innovation of dynamic regulation of root zone volume and composite agronomic measures, the root zone volume is dynamically adjusted according to the plant growth period, and gradient water control irrigation technology is used to achieve improvements in tomato quality and marketable fruit yield while ensuring quality uniformity.

[0016] Example 1: A substrate cultivation trough with adjustable root zone volume Embodiment 1 of the present invention provides a substrate cultivation trough with adjustable root zone volume, and its structure is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0017] refer to Figures 1 to 4 The substrate cultivation trough with adjustable root zone volume includes a cultivation trough body 1 and a plurality of vertical inserting plates 2.

[0018] The cultivation trough body 1 comprises a rectangular bottom plate 10 surrounded by four side panels, forming a container with an open top. Specifically, the cultivation trough body 1 has an upper opening of 20-30 cm, a lower opening of 15-25 cm, and a height of 20-30 cm. It can be made of a formable material such as polypropylene plastic or polystyrene foam board.

[0019] A plurality of opposing slots 20 are respectively provided on two opposite side panels of the cultivation trough body 1 . The opposing slots 20 are vertical grooves, and a opposing inserting plate 2 is inserted between each pair of opposing slots 20 .

[0020] The vertical inserts 2 serve as partitions with the same cross-sectional shape as the cultivation trough body 1 and are made of the same material as the cultivation trough. When two vertical inserts 2 are inserted into a pair of vertical slots 20 on two opposing side panels of the cultivation trough body 1, the space enclosed by the two adjacent vertical slots 20 and the two side panels and the bottom panel 10 serves as a plant root planting area for growing plants. Adjusting the position of the pair of vertical slots 20 according to the plant's growth stage changes the volume of the plant root planting area, thereby achieving regulation of the root zone volume.

[0021] In order to facilitate the insertion of the facade plug board 2, each of the facade slots 20 is arranged downward from the opening of the cultivation trough body 1 along two opposite side panels in the cultivation trough body 1 from top to bottom.

[0022] In order to facilitate drainage, a plurality of bottom return water grooves 100 are provided on the upper surface of the base plate 10, each bottom return water groove 100 is perpendicular to the vertical slot 20; and the bottom of each vertical slot 20 is connected to the bottom return water grooves 100 on both sides of the upper surface of the base plate 10.

[0023] Specifically, the bottom water return groove 100 is a drainage groove with a T-shaped cross section. Figure 4 As shown, the interval between adjacent bottom water return grooves 100 is 0.5-1.0 cm, the height of each bottom water return groove 100 is 1.0-3.0 cm, and the top width is 0.2-0.5 cm.

[0024] In order to facilitate the bearing of the substrate, the cultivation trough body 1 has a large top and a small bottom, and each side plate of the cultivation trough body 1 is in an inverted trapezoid. It should be noted that the inverted trapezoid refers to a trapezoid with a larger upper base than the lower base.

[0025] In order to facilitate the insertion of the vertical plug-in board 2, the upper end of the vertical plug-in board 2 is large and the lower end is small, forming an inverted trapezoid; the upper end of each side plate of the cultivation trough body 1 is tilted outward.

[0026] As a specific example, the four sides of the bottom plate 10 are respectively provided with a left side plate 11, a right side plate 12, a front side plate 13 and a rear side plate 14. The left side plate 11, the rear side plate 14, the right side plate 12 and the front side plate 13 are arranged around the bottom plate 10 with their upper ends tilted outward in sequence to form the cultivation trough body 1.

[0027] Continue to refer Figure 3 The vertical slots 20 are respectively arranged in pairs on the front side plate 13 and the rear side plate 14, and a plurality of bottom return water grooves 100 are arranged parallel to each other on the bottom plate 10 between the left side plate 11 and the right side plate 12.

[0028] More specifically, the spacing between adjacent vertical slots 20 of the front side panel 13 and the rear side panel 14 is 5 to 10 cm, and the depth of each vertical slot 20 is 0.4 to 0.8 cm and the width is 0.2 to 0.4 cm.

[0029] Example 2: A method for increasing tomato sugar content and marketable fruit rate based on dynamic control of root zone volume Example 1 of the present invention provides a method for increasing the sugar content and marketable fruit rate of tomatoes based on dynamic control of root zone volume, comprising the following steps: Step A: Setting a substrate cultivation trough with adjustable root zone volume, the substrate cultivation trough with adjustable root zone volume comprises a cultivation trough body 1, in which a plurality of opposite slots 20 are respectively arranged, the vertical slots 20 are vertical grooves, and two vertical plug-in boards 2 are inserted into each pair of vertical slots 20, and two vertical plug-in boards 2 are arranged in each pair of vertical slots 20 as partitions, and two adjacent partitions form a planting groove, and each two adjacent planting grooves are spaced apart at a distance of 5-15 cm.

[0030] Specifically, the substrate cultivation trough with adjustable root zone volume includes a cultivation trough body 1 and several vertical plug-in plates 2. The cultivation trough body 1 includes a bottom plate 10, and the bottom plate 10 is rectangular in shape. Four side plates are respectively arranged around the bottom plate 10 to form a container with an open upper end; a plurality of opposite slots 20 are respectively arranged on the two opposite side plates in the cultivation trough body 1, and the vertical slots 20 are vertical grooves, and a vertical plug-in plate 2 is inserted between each pair of vertical slots 20; wherein, the space enclosed by two adjacent vertical slots 20 and the two side plates and the bottom plate 10 is used as a plant root planting area for planting plants, and the position of a pair of vertical slots 20 is adjusted according to the growth stage of the plant to change the volume of the plant root planting area, thereby realizing the regulation of the root zone volume.

[0031] To facilitate drainage, the partitions should be kept 2-3 cm away from the bottom of the planting trench.

[0032] Step B: Soil or cultivation substrate is placed into the cultivation trough body 1, and the plants are planted in the partitions at a spacing of 30-40 cm. The period from the time when 2 ears of fruit turn green and ripe to the time when 5 ears of fruit turn green and ripe is regarded as the early stage, the period from the time when 2 ears of fruit turn color to the time when 5 ears of fruit turn color to the time when the vines are pulled out is regarded as the late stage. The position of a pair of vertical slots 20 is adjusted according to the growth stage of the plant to change the volume of the plant root planting area, thereby realizing the volume control of the root area and the dynamic control of irrigation.

[0033] Wherein, in the early stage, the volume of the plant root planting area is limited to a partition, such as Figure 5This is because the plants are small and have a small root system. Planting them in a partition and receiving normal irrigation allows for precise irrigation control and water conservation.

[0034] In the middle stage, the partitions on one side of the plant are pulled out and one partition is merged with one of the adjacent partitions to increase the volume of the root zone, e.g. Figure 5 (b) shows a mild to moderate deficit irrigation system. This is because the plant has reached a certain growth stage and is entering the flowering and fruiting stage. At this time, mild to moderate deficit irrigation is required. For example, the irrigation rate should be reduced by 15-30%. At this time, one of the partitions on one side of the plant is removed to increase the root zone volume, which is beneficial for root growth and reduces the stress of the deficit on growth.

[0035] In the later stages, remove the partition on the other side of the plant and merge one partition with another adjacent partition to further increase the root zone volume. At the same time, implement moderate to severe deficit irrigation. This is because the plant grows rapidly and sets more fruit in the later stages. Once again, remove a partition to further increase the root zone volume. At the same time, implement moderate to severe deficit irrigation, such as reducing the irrigation rate by 30-60%.

[0036] Step C: While carrying out root zone volume control and irrigation dynamic control, continuous re-heading and pruning are carried out simultaneously to further increase yield and commercial fruit rate.

[0037] Among them, the method of continuous top-changing pruning is: pinching the top after the second bunch of fruits, leaving side branches; pinching the top again after the second bunch of fruits on the side branches, leaving side branches, and so on, so as to further improve the yield and commercial fruit rate.

[0038] Example 3: Application example of tomato substrate cultivation Example 3 of the present invention uses tomato substrate cultivation from February to June (spring) as an example. The substrate cultivation trough with adjustable root zone volume of Example 1 is used for cultivation. The cultivation substrate is prepared with coconut husk and perlite in a volume ratio of 3:1. This provides an application example of increasing the sugar content and marketable fruit yield of tomatoes by dynamically controlling the root zone volume. The method includes the following specific steps: Step 1: Use partitions of the same shape as the cross-section of the planting trough to separate the planting troughs at intervals of 10 cm. Step 2: Pour the cultivation substrate into the planting trough partition and install the drip irrigation tape; Step 3: Plant the cultivated tomato seedlings into the planting troughs, with a spacing of 30 cm between each plant. Each tomato plant is planted in a partition, with 2 partitions between each two tomato plants. Step 4: In the early stage, irrigate at a rate of 1.5 liters per plant per day, irrigate five times a day; and carry out daily management such as pruning and plant protection according to the growth of tomatoes; Step 5: After the second ear of flowers blooms, keep the side branches 2-3 leaves above the second ear of flowers when pruning; after the second ear of fruits are green and ripe, keep 2 leaves for pinching, and manage the retained side branches as the main growth stems.

[0039] Step 6: After the mid-stage, remove one of the baffles on one side of the tomato plant to increase the root zone volume; at the same time, reduce the irrigation rate to 1.2 liters per plant per day; and carry out daily management such as pruning and plant protection according to the growth of the tomatoes; Step 7: After the fifth ear of flowers blooms, keep the side branches 2-3 leaves above the fourth ear of flowers when pruning; after the fourth ear of fruits are green and ripe, keep 2 leaves for pinching, and manage the retained side branches as the main growth stems.

[0040] Step 8: After the late stage, remove another baffle on the other side of the tomato plant to increase the root zone volume; at the same time, reduce the irrigation rate to 1.0 liter / plant / day; and carry out daily management such as pruning and plant protection according to the growth of the tomatoes; Step 9: After the sixth ear of flowers blooms, keep the side branches 2-3 leaves above the sixth ear of flowers when pruning; after the sixth ear of fruits are green and ripe, keep 2 leaves for pinching, and manage the retained side branches as the main growth stems.

[0041] Step 10: After the 8th bunch of fruits reaches green maturity, pinch off the top of the fruit while retaining 2 leaves.

[0042] Step 11: After picking 8 ears of fruit, the vines are pulled out.

[0043] From February to June 2024, a verification test was conducted in a multi-span greenhouse at the Yujiawu Base in Tongzhou. The tomato variety was "Ya Shu 012". A composite matrix of coconut coir and perlite was used for cultivation in planting troughs. The top opening of the planting trough was 20 cm, the bottom opening was 15 cm, and the height was 18 cm. The length of a single row was 40 meters, and the plant spacing was 30 cm. The method disclosed in the present invention was used for treatment, recorded as the second experimental group T2. Conventional soil cultivation was used as the control group CK. The coconut coir matrix root-limited trough cultivation treatment was used, where the cultivation trough volume was 12 L; two plants were planted in each trough, recorded as the first experimental group T1. The modified tomato groundwater formula of the Vegetable Research Institute of the Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences was used for drip irrigation with nutrient solution. The nutrient solution concentration was 2.2-2.4 mS / cm and the pH value was 6.2-6.4. The irrigation amount was 1.5 liters / plant / day in the early stage, 1.2 liters / plant / day in the middle stage, and 1.0 liters / plant / day in the late stage. Irrigation was carried out in 5 times, and environmental control and plant protection management were carried out under the same environmental conditions. The effects of different technical controls on tomato yield and quality are shown in Table 1.

[0044] Table 1 Effects of different technical controls on tomato yield and quality

[0045] Through experimental comparison and data investigation, the commercial fruit rate of fruit treated with the method disclosed in the present invention was significantly higher than that of the control treatment and the fixed root restriction mode, and the total yield was also significantly higher than that of the control treatment and the fixed root restriction mode. According to the current consensus that tomato fruit with a soluble solids content of 8 or above is high-quality, the proportion of fruit treated with the method disclosed in the present invention achieving a soluble solids content of greater than 8 was 86.3%, and the proportion of fruit with a soluble solids content greater than 9 was 60.8%. The other two treatments did not reach a content of 9 or above, showing significant results, as shown in Table 2.

[0046] Table 2 Effects of different regulation techniques on tomato yield per plant and commercial fruit rate

[0047] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, rather than to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or make equivalent replacements for some of the technical features therein. However, these modifications or replacements do not deviate the essence of the corresponding technical solutions from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the various embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for increasing sugar content and marketable fruit rate of tomatoes based on dynamic control of root zone volume, characterized in that: include Step A: providing a substrate cultivation trough with an adjustable root zone volume, the substrate cultivation trough with an adjustable root zone volume comprising a cultivation trough body (1), a plurality of opposite slots (20) being provided in the cultivation trough body (1), the opposite slots (20) being vertical grooves, two opposite slots (2) being inserted into each opposite slot (20), two opposite slots (2) being provided in each opposite slot (20) as partitions, and two adjacent partitions forming a planting trench, and each two adjacent planting trenches being spaced apart by a partition interval; Step B: placing soil or a cultivation substrate into the cultivation trough body (1), planting the plants in the partition according to the set spacing, and adjusting the position of a pair of vertical slots (20) according to the plant growth stage to change the volume of the plant root planting area, thereby achieving root area volume regulation and irrigation dynamic regulation; Step C: While carrying out root zone volume control and irrigation dynamic control, continuous re-heading and pruning are carried out simultaneously to further increase yield and commercial fruit rate.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The length of the partition is 5-15 cm.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that In the step B, the period from the time when two ears of fruit turn green and ripen after planting is defined as the early stage, the period from the time when two ears of fruit turn color to the time when five ears of fruit turn green and ripen is defined as the middle stage, and the period from the time when five ears of fruit turn color to the time when the vines are pulled out is defined as the late stage; In the early stage, the volume of the plant root planting area is limited to a partition; In the middle stage, the partitions on one side of the plant are pulled out, one partition is merged with one of the adjacent partitions, the root zone volume is increased, and light to moderate deficit irrigation is regulated; In the later stages, the partitions on the other side of the plant are pulled out and one partition is merged with another adjacent partition to further increase the root zone volume, while medium to heavy deficit irrigation is regulated.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein The set plant spacing is 30-40 cm.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein In the step C, The method of continuous top-changing and pruning is: pinching the top after the second bunch of fruits and leaving the side branches; pinching the top again after the second bunch of fruits on the side branches and leaving the side branches, and so on, so as to further improve the yield and commercial fruit rate.

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