الفهرس 
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Abstract
Tomato (Lycopersicon Esculentum L.) is among the most important vegetable crops grown in Egypt for exportation and local consumption. Compost is one of the most major sources of fertilization. The application of compost positively affects the structure, porosity, water holding capacity, compression strength, nutrient content and organic matter content of the soil , consequently improves plant growth, crop yield and crop quality. Boron (B) is an essential micronutrient required for normal plant growth and development. It plays an important role in cell-wall synthesis, sugar transport, cell division, differentiation, membrane functioning, root elongation, regulation of plant hormone levels, and generative growth of p Also, the application of compost and bio fertilizers combined with or without macro and micro nutrients to soil is considered as a good management practices in agricultural production system because it improves, plant quality and soil fertility. Thus, the purpose of this investigation was to assess the influence of organic and bio fertilizers with foliar spraying of boron element on improving the fruit yield and quality of the tomato plants grown in an alluvial soil during the winter seasons of 2018 and 2019. The combined effects of compost, boron element and phosphorien on growth and yield of tomato plants were investigated by combining three compost rates and three spraying rates of boron. Also, each treatment was studied twice; once in the presence of strains inoculants and the other without inoculation. The experimental design was a split plot design with three replicates for each treatment. There are 3 factors under experimentation: Main plots were plant compost treatments which included compost levels i.e. (C1): plant compost was applied at the rate of 5 m3fed-1two weeks before sowing, (C2): plant compost was applied at the rate of 10m3fed-1two weeks before sowing and (C3): plant compost was applied at the rate of 15m3fed-1two weeks before sowing. Sub plots were the foliar boron fertilization treatments i.e., (B0): 0.0 mgL-1, (B1): 50 mg L-1 B using [boric acid]) and (B2): 100 mg L-1 B using [boric acid]). Sub sub plots were bio fertilization treatments i.e., (I0): without inoculation and (I1): with inoculation at the rate of 200 g Fed-1) Data recorded1- Vegetative Growth: Plant height (cm), number of leaves plant-1, number of branchesplant-1, leaf area (cm2) using leaf area meter and fresh and dry weights (g plant-12- Chemical constituent in the leaves: Chlorophyll content and mineral content of leaves (N, P, K, Ca, Fe and B content of leaves %) at flowering stage.3- Mineral content and quality parameters of tomato fruits: Mineral content of fruits( N, P, K, Ca, Fe and B content of fruits %),vitamin C; mg 100g-1,total acidity in fruits; %, lycopene pigment; %,total carbohydrates and total sugars; %, total soluble solids content (TSS) of the fresh tomato fruits; % and percentage of dry matter after drying fruits at 70°c.4- Fruit yield: Total fruit yield (gram per plant), average number of fruits per plant and Average weight of fruits; gram.
The data were statistically analyzed according to Gomez and Gomez (1984) using CoStat (Version 6.303, CoHort, USA, 1998–2004).
The results obtained could be summarized as follows:-
1- Vegetative growth characteristics.
The application of plant compost at a rate of 15 m3 fed-1 (C3) with the application of boron at a rate of 100 mg L-1 (B2) under inoculation (I1) produced higher fresh and dry weight (g plant-1), plant height (cm), No. of branches plant -1 ,No. of leaves plant -1, leaves dry matter (g plant -1) and leaves area/plant (cm2) of tomato plants ,while the lowest values were recorded at the control treatment [C0 (without plant compost) × B0 (without B foliar application) ×I0 (without inoculation)].Also, the spraying boron at the rate of 100 mg B L-1 (B2) with inoculation (I1) gave higher plant height (cm), No. of branches plant -1 and No. of leaves plant -1 of tomato plants at any level of plant compost compared to that same plant compost level without boron and inoculation application. Moreover, the values were increased as the levels of plant compost were increased.
2- Chlorophyll content in leaves and mineral content in leaves and fruits.
The highest values of chlorophyll content in leaves and concentrations of N, P, Ca, Fe, B in leaves and fruits of tomato plants in both studied seasons were at [C3 (15 m3 plant compost fed-1) × B2 (100 mg B L-1)×I1( with inoculation)] treatment, while the lowest values were at control treatment [C0 (without plant compost) × B0 (without B foliar application) ×I0 (without inoculation)] Also, the spraying boron at the rate of 100 mg B L-1 (B2) with inoculation (I1) gave higher chlorophyll content in leaves and concentrations of N, P, Ca, Fe, B in leaves and fruits of tomato at any level of plant compost compared to that same plant compost level without boron and inoculation application. On the contrary; because of the antagonism between boron and potassium, the value of K (%)in leaves and fruits of tomato significantly decreased with increasing boron application levels under inoculation (I1) or without inoculation (I0) at any level of plant compost but the values under inoculation is greater than those without inoculation. Moreover, the values of K (%) under C3 treatment were higher than those obtained for the C2 and C1 treatments, respectively with all added B levels under both I1 treatment (inoculation) and I0 treatment (without inoculation).This trend was realized for the two studied seasons.
3- Fruit characteristics and yield.
a- Fruit nutritional values.
For the interaction effect between the treatments under study; the values of acidity (%), lycopene (%), total soluble solids(TSS %), total sugars(%), total carbohydrates (%) and ascorbic acid (V. C mg/100g) of tomato fruits were significantly affected due to the addition of all investigated treatments. For all above mentioned parameters except acidity%, the highest values were at [C3 (15 m3 plant compost fed-1) × B2 (100 mg B L-1)×I1( with inoculation)] treatment, while the lowest values were at control treatment [C0 (without plant compost) × B0 (without B foliar application) ×I0 (without inoculation)]. Also, the spraying boron at the rate of 100 mg B L-1 (B2) with inoculation (I1) gave higher values at any level of plant compost compared to that same plant compost level without both boron application and inoculation.
As for acidity, the lowest values were at [C3 (15 m3 plant compost fed-1) × B2 (100 mg B L-1)×I1( with inoculation)] treatment, while the highest values were at control treatment [C0 (without plant compost) × B0 (without B foliar application) ×I0 (without inoculation)].Also, the data show that spraying boron at the rate of 100 mg B L-1 (B2) with inoculation (I1) gave lower values at any level of plant compost compared to that same plant compost level without both boron application and inoculation .This trend was realized for the two studied seasons.
b- Yield and its components:
For the interaction effect between plant compost, boron element and inoculation on fruits dry matter (%), No. of fruit plant-1, fresh weight of fruit (g plant-1) and total yield (g plant-1) of tomato plant of tomato plants; the application of plant compost at a rate of 15 m3 fed-1 (C3) with the application of boron at a rate of 100 mg L-1 (B2) under inoculation (I1) produced higher values of above mentioned parameters ,while the lowest values were recorded at the control treatment [C0 (without plant compost) × B0(without B foliar application) ×I0 (without inoculation)]. Also, the data show that spraying boron at the rate of 100 mg B L-1 (B2) with inoculation (I1) gave higher values at any level of plant compost compared to that same plant compost level without both boron application and inoculation. Generally, the highest values were at (C3 B2 I1) treatment, while the lowest values were at control treatment (C0 B0I0).
CONCLUSION :-
According to the obtained results in this investigation, tomato c.v ’30-60’ treated with compost (Plant residues) before planting at a rate of 15 m3 fed-1 and sprayed with boron element at a rate of 100 mg L-1 under bio-inoculation was the best treatment that could be recommended to obtain the highest yield as well as improve fruit quality, especially TSS% and vitamin C of tomato fruit in Delta area and other regions with similar agro-climate conditions.