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There is a need to introduce to horticultural practice new methods of plant cultivation which will allow us to obtain optimal yields while reducing water and fertilizer consumption and avoiding environmental pollution. Four methods of growing greenhouse tomato cv. Tomimaru Muchoo F1 in a system with nutrient solution recirculation were compared, i.e. cultivation in new and re-used 1- or 2-year-old rockwool and polyurethane foam slabs, NFT and aeroponic culture. The highest marketable and total fruit yields were in the aeroponic culture. They were by 29.8 - 30.8% higher than in new rockwool slabs. Positive effects on tomato yield were obtained in the NFT (28.2% higher than in new rockwool slabs) and re-used 1-year-old (26.7 - 29.4% higher) or 2-year-old polyurethane foam slabs (23.5 - 25.4% higher). Tomato growing in re-used 1-year old rockwool slabs was demonstrated as a feasible solution. The marketable and total yields were by 10.0 - 7.5% higher (respectively) than from tomatoes grown in new rockwool. The marketable and total greenhouse tomato yields obtained in re-used 1- or 2-year-old polyurethane foam slabs were significant higher than in new polyurethane slabs. The increase was 14.7 - 15.9% for marketable and 14.2 - 19.7% for total yield. Greenhouse tomato yield in re-used 1- or 2-year-old polyurethane foam slabs was significantly higher than in new and re-used rockwool slabs. In re-used 1- or 2-year-old polyurethane foam slabs, the N-NO3, Ca, and Na content was significantly higher, which meant a higher EC of the nutrient solution. There was a significant decrease in the P content in re-used 1- or 2-year-old polyurethane slabs. A significant increase in the Ca content in re-used rockwool slabs was determined alongside a tendency towards higher Na, S-SO4 and EC in this substrate. The content of P, Zn and Cu in leaves of tomato plants grown in aeroponic culture was significantly lower, but Mg was higher than in leaves of tomatoes grown in rockwool, polyurethane and the NFT. A significantly lower content of K and Fe was determined in leaves of tomatoes grown in aeroponics than in rockwool and polyurethane substrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydroponic systems are very often used for tomato production in the greenhouse. An important role in the diagnosis of a plant nutritional status is played by leaf analysis. Boron toxicity is crop specific, manifesting itself as damage to the tissues where it accumulates, and generally leading to chlorosis and necrosis, first at the edges of mature leaves. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of varying boron levels in the nutrient solution used for fertigation of two tomato cultivars (Alboney F1 and Emotion F1), supplied in the form of boric acid and borax. A plant-growing experiment was conducted in 2009 - 2012 (Experiment I) and 2013 - 2014 (Experiment II). A standard nutrient solution for tomato cultivation was used with the following nutrient content (in mg·dm-3): N-NH4 - 2.0, N-NO3 - 230, P - 50, K - 420, Ca - 140, Mg - 60, Cl - 30, S-SO4 - 120, Fe -1.80, Mn - 0.3, Zn - 0.50, Cu - 0.07. The following combinations were tested (mg·dm-3): Control (0.011), 0.4, 0.8, 1.6 in the form of: Na2B4O7 · 10H2O (Experiment I) and boric acid H3BO3 (Experiment II); (combinations denoted by the symbols B-I, B-II, B-III, and B-IV, respectively). Analyses were conducted on the effect of boron fertigation on the macro- and micronutrient content in leaves of tomato grown on rockwool. Supplied boric acid, the variety significantly differentiated the content of phosphorus (B-III and B-IV), potassium (B-III), magnesium (B-I to B-IV), iron (B-I and B-II), zinc (B-I and B-III), copper (B-IV). When standard borax was used, the variety modified the content of potassium (B-IV), calcium (B-I and B-IV), magnesium (B-I and B-II), iron (B-III), manganese (B-I to B-IV), copper (B-IV). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) is a useful tool for the evaluation of focal lesions in the liver or kidneys, as well as for the diagnosis and assessment of the liver fibrosis process. Some reports show that the spleen and kidneys may serve as reference organs in the staging of liver fibrosis or the evaluation of focal liver lesions. Objectives. The aim of the study was to determine whether the spleen and renal cortex can be used as reference organs in the DWI technique. Material and methods. The study group included 36 patients with no liver, spleen or renal pathologies and without any infections or hematologic disease. All the examinations were performed using a 1.5T MR unit with a conventional phased array body coil. Image interpretation and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurements were done by 3 experienced radiologists. Results. There was a statistically significant difference between the ADC values noted by 2 of the examiners in the upper/middle and lower part of the spleen parenchyma. There were no statistically significant differences between the ADC values obtained by all 3 examiners in all the parts of each kidney. There were no statistically significant differences between the examiners' ADC values for the spleen and kidneys. The mean ADC values for the left kidney showed the highest measurement reproducibility. Conclusions. The study showed that the renal cortex seems to be an appropriate region for performing reference ADC measurements. Further studies on a larger group of patients and using various DWI protocols should be performed to ascertain the best conditions for maximizing the reproducibility of ADC measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the conducted studies was estimation of the influence of titanium fertigation application on the changes of chemical composition in root zone of tomato growing in rock- wool (control -- without dose of Tytanit, Ti-I -- yearly dose 2.01 mg Ti per plant, Ti-II -- 6.04 mg Ti per plant, Ti-III -- 12.08 mg Ti per plant, Ti-IV -- 24.16 mg Ti per plant). The changes of nutrients contents, salinity and pH in plants' root zone were typical for growing of that species. Generally there was no significant influence of titanium on the chemical composition of standard nutrient solution used to tomato fertigation. Research shows that while using nutrient solution fertigation of tomato supplemented with titanium there is no need to interfere with the chemical composition of standard solution used for the cultivation of tomato in rockwool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of our studies was to determine the suitability of organic substrate: peat, coconut fiber with a 20% admixture of chips, and coconut fiber with a 40% admixture of chips (as alternative substrates in relation to rockwool) in intensive horticultural cultures with fertigation adopted as the fertilization method. Tomato was the model plant in this study. Evaluations comprised yielding of plants, contents of macro- and microelements in leaves and fruits, plus changes in the counts of different groups of microorganisms: bacteria, fungi, Actinomycetes, and dehydrogenase activity in the root medium of plants during their vegetation. The significantly highest total yield of plants was found in the case of plants grown in peat and in coconut fiber with a higher (40%) content of chips (9.28 kg·m-2 each) in relation to rockwool (8.35 kg·m-2). A similar trend was recorded in the case of commercial yield. Applied substrates significantly modified yielding fruit of grades IVI. Despite the recorded significant modifying effect of the substrate on nutrient contents in leaves and fruits of plants grown in it, no visual symptoms of their deficiencies were observed, which indicates an adequate plant nutrition in both rockwool and organic substrates. Analyzed organic substrates are perfectly suitable for application in intensive culture of vegetables under cover. After the completion of the plants' cultivation cycle they become valuable organic fertilizer, exhibiting advantageous microbiological parameters, i.e. relatively high counts of fungi, bacteria, and Actinomycetes, as well as dehydrogenase activity, which may improve the fertility of the soil on which they have been utilized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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