Romanian Biotechnological Letters Vol. 21, No.

1, 2016
Copyright 2016 University of Bucharest Printed in Romania. All rights reserved
ORIGINAL PAPER

Study regarding the influence of NPK fertilizers on the total nitrogen

content from tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum)
Received for publication, February 18, 2015
Accepted, May 20, 2015

MARIANA BURCEA1*, DANIELA CRETU1, MARIAN MUSAT2, MIHAI GIDEA2

1
University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, Romania,
Calarasi Branch
2
University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, Romania
*Address correspondence to: University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine
of Bucharest, Faculty of Management, 01 N. Titulescu Blvd, Calarasi, Romania.
Tel./Fax: +42 332 077;
*Corresponding e-mail address: burcea_mariana2003@yahoo.com

Abstract
Nitrogen is an indispensable element for plants, being the fourth element as a percentage of plants
by carbon, oxygen and hydrogen, in his absence they do not develop as a result of inhibition of
chlorophyll synthesis and loss of nutritional values of fruits, hence the efficiency of this element in plans
fertility of all plants. Conversely nitrogen (N), plants sensitizes the fall and decreases resistance to
frost, pests and drought. Tomato culture occupies a leading position in the EU population consumption,
the importance of which derives from the rich content of vitamins, carbohydrates, organic acids,
mineral salts (potassium more, then, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, aluminum, iodine, etc.)
and energy items therefore be pursued and N content in fruits, due to the application of fertilizer
nitrogen content in excess causes toxicity phenomena. The theme of the paper, it aims to conduct
various types of simple and combined NPK fertilizers, applied to two types of soil: chernozem and
aluviosoil in vegetation pots, on tomato crop, following their remanence in plants and production
increase. NPK based fertilizers applied to tomatoes as basic fertilizer are soluble and easily assimilated
by plants, dosing being correlated with soil properties and climatic conditions (BALIGAR & al.[4],
DAVIDESCU [10], DORNEANU [11]). In terms of experimenting with the application of various doses
of fertilizer based on NPK, no differences of values are recorded which ensure statistically compared
with the control variant in the case of tomatoes, and in leaves most variants recorded very significant
value, less in variants fertilized with N100P100.

Keywords: fertilisation, nitrogen, leaves, chernozem, Lycopersicon esculentum

1. Introduction
Nitrogen (N) is the nutrient most limiting crop production increase. Use proper
management practices can optimize nitrogen use efficiency so as to have no residual effects
on plants and soil. Following the application on soil nitrogen is lost through volatilization,
part is immobilized forms inaccessible, denitrification, these losses are covered by soil,
climatic factors, type of fertilizer, and crop management practices (BRADBURY & al. [8]).
The soil is the main source of mineral nutrients and water for plants, but its ability to
provide plant nutrients needed varies depending on the level of fertility. The removal of
nutrients from the soil into the plant by sucking them through leaching or other processes
related to the natural dynamics of soil, reducing entail the contents of mobile forms of
nutrients and the gradual decline of production capacity of soils.
For these reasons, it is necessary that an objective necessity compensation by applying
mineral and organic fertilizers, both in consumption of crops and decrease the mobility of
Romanian Biotechnological Letters, Vol. 21, No. 1, 2016 11144
 Study regarding the influence of NPK fertilizers on the total nitrogen
content from tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum)

nutrients through natural processes (BORLAN [6]). To realize its full potential productive
cultivated plants need adequate amounts of water, light, carbon dioxide and mineral nutrients
(nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, and a number of micronutrients).
The need for N is provided to the application of nitrogen fertilizers, where it is absorbed
and accumulated in the plant in two forms, ammonia (NH4+) or nitrates (organic nitrogen)
(NO3-), and is influenced by a number of factors such as the crop species, the period
vegetation and soil conditions (SIDDIQI & al. [20], BLOOM [5], NEA [19]).
Ammonium (NH4+) proved to be a source of nitrate nitrogen equivalent (NO3-), when
supplied at reasonable, with the pH buffer concentration and an appropriate level of macro
and micronutrients (SIDDIQI & al. [20]). An immediate effect of the application of nitrogen
(N), is an increase yields by 15-20% following their application (ANTON & al. [1], KIRDA
& al. [15], ERTEK & al. [13]). In this context it is envisaged nitrate and nitrite content in
plants as a result of unreasonable application of nitrogen fertilizers.
Studies show a nitrate content relevant minimum, between 98 ppm and 131 ppm of NO3-
maximum fertilized tomato, where the maximum permissible limit is 150 ppm nitrate NO3-.
These results shows that tomatoes are good for consumption (MOIGRDEAN [18],
LCTUU & al. [17], SIMION & al. [21]).
Other researches (VOLENEC [24], ARNONE [2], LAITINEN & al. [16], GOULD
WILBUR [14]), highlighted that nitrate concentrations in vegetables have the inorganic
sources and can be accumulated in plants during vegetation cycle (U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AGENCY [22]).
The theme of the paper aims to conduct different types of root chemical fertilizers,
applied to two soil types in tomato crop in terms of quality production obtained and their
remanence in soil. Fertilizing the vegetable crops is based on rhythm and adsorption of
nutrients. Thus, the tomatoes during fruiting consume much nitrogen and potassium, therefore
it is recommended to use simple or complex fertilizer with high content of active substance.
(VOICAN [23]).

2. Materials and Methods

The research was conducted in the vegetation house, studying the culture of tomatoes, placed
on two soil types namely chernozem and aluviosoil. Qualitative analysis of tomato fruit grown in
the two variants of soil were carried out in application of several types of combined fertilizer
(urea, potasium chloride (V5), potassium sulfate in V6). Tomato culture was made by
transplanting of seedlings (one plant/pot), which matures after 70 days. The tomatoes weight at
mature stage were of 120 - 140 g. The Planting seedlings were carried out in early May.
Experiments were placed in vegetation pots in a bifactorial experience with 6 variants of
4 repetitions for each soil type. Factor A has two graduations and is the type of soil (a1 -
Chernozem, a2 - Aluviosoil) and factor B, with 6 graduations is the fertilization system,
including control (unfertilized). Fertilizers were applied and incorporated into the soil as
planting vegetation vessels.
In the experiments on the influence of nitrogen fertilizer on tomato fruit in vegetation
house were analyzed the following factors:
A. Soil type, with graduations:
a1 Chernozem
a2 Aluviosoil
B. Fertilization with graduations:
b1 - N0P0K0 (unfertilized)
Romanian Biotechnological Letters, Vol. 21, No. 1, 2016 11145
 MARIANA BURCEA, DANIELA CRETU,
MARIAN MUSAT, MIHAI GIDEA

b2 - N120 + K100
b3 - N120+ K100
b4 - P100+ K100
b5 - N120 + P100 + K100
b6 - N120+P100+ K100
For the determination of total nitrogen in tomato leaves Kjeldahl method was used. This
is based on the fact that organic substances by boiling with concentrated H2SO4, which in the
presence of a catalyst decomposes, (hydrogen peroxide 30 % as an oxidant) releasing their
components in different forms: carbon as carbon dioxide, hydrogen and oxygen as water and
nitrogen is transformed quantitatively into ammonia nitrogen. Nitrogen is lost during Kjeldahl
analysis when the temperature exceeds about 400C. (BREMEER [9]).
Determination comprises three successive stages: organic matter mineralization;
ammonia distillation and titration of ammonia (BRADSTREET [7]).
The calculation was made by the method of experimental data analysis of variance.

3. Results and Discussions

The nitrogen, essential element for plant growth and fruition is necessary especially
during the intense fruition. In the early stages of vegetation, nitrogen leads to a lush growth of
plants on the expense of fruiting.
Following the analysis performed on both types of soil studied, reveals a total
accumulation of nitrogen in tomato plants.
From the analysis of data on total nitrogen content in the leaves (Table 1), on
aluviosoil is found out that it varies between 1.21% to variants V4 (P100+K100), close to
unfertilized control variant (V1) with a total N content of 1.23%, not being differences
ensured statistically.
Variants V2, V3, V5, are statistically ensured as being very significant, compared to
control variant, Nt reaching to values of 1.91% total nitrogen in V2. In the case of variant V4,
where doses of P100+K100, are applied, there is no difference ensured statistically.
Applications of nitrogen increased N concentrations in leaf, tomatoes and vegetative
biomass (ERDAL & al. [12]).

Table 1. Average of total nitrogen content in tomato leaves (%) on the two types of soil

Aluviosoil Chernozem
No. Fertilization with
variant graduations Average The Average The
Significance Significance
(%) difference (%) difference
N0P0K0 Variant Variant
V1 1.23 1.35
(unfertilized) control control
V2 N120+K100 1.91 0.69 *** 1.85 0.49 ***
V3 N120+K100 1.84 0.61 *** 2.50 1.15 ***
V4 P100+K100 1.21 -0.01 1.30 -0.04
V5 N120+ P100+K100 1.61 0.4 *** 1.51 0.16 *
V6 N120+P100+K100 1.78 0.56 *** 1.83 0.47 ***
DL 5% 0.165214 0.124764
DL 1% 0.203903 0.159099
DL 0.1% 0.267751 0.221028

11146 Romanian Biotechnological Letters, Vol. 21, No. 1, 2016

 Study regarding the influence of NPK fertilizers on the total nitrogen
content from tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum)

In the case of chernozem, the nitrogen content in leaf varies between 1.36% in control
variant and 2.11% in variant V3 fertilized with N120+K100.
Among the leaves of the tomato there are clear differences in the accumulation of total
nitrogen, depending on the type of soil.
Analyzing the data in Table 2 on productions obtained at tomato crop in chernozem, it is
found out that the productions vary between 2.35 kg/plant to control version (V2) fertilized
with N120+K100 and 3.45 kg/plant at variants V5 and V6 fertilized with N100+ P100+K100.

Table 2. Determination of tomato production (kg / plant) on the two types of soil
Aluviosoil Chernozem
No. Fertilization with
Average The Average The
variant graduations Significance Significance
difference difference
Variant 2,85 Variant
V1 N0P0K0 (unfertilized) 2.38
control control
V2 N120+K100 4,01 1,63 *** 5,2 2,30 ***
V3 N120+K100 4,17 1,79 *** 5,15 2,35 ***
V4 P100+K100 3,57 1,19 *** 4,81 1,96 ***
V5 N120+ P100+K100 5,3 2,92 *** 6,3 3,45 ***
V6 N120+P100+K100 5,31 2,93 *** 6,3 3,45 ***
DL 5% 0,249182 0,200746
DL 1% 0,389422 0,313727
DL 0.1% 0,562766 0,453377

In the case of aluviosoil, the productions obtained vary between 2.38 kg/plant to control
variant and 5.31 kg/plant at variant V6, fertilized with N100+P100+K100. The lowest average
productions were recorded in variant V4, where N was not used to fertilization.
Statistically speaking, very significant production increases were obtained in all variants.

4. Conclusions
In case of combined application of recommended doses of NPK in the experience, the
green elements of tomato plants recorded increases of total nitrogen content above the normal.
The nitrogen content accumulated in leaves, as a result of NPK fertilization, is very
significant in variants where the nitrogen fertilizer was applied (V2, V3, V5 and V6) and
insignificant in both types of soil, when the combined fertilizer (PK) did not contain nitrogen
too. Only in variant V4, (P100+K100) in which the nitrogen was not used combined, total
residual nitrogen was not found in their leaves.
Aluviosol known to be poorer in nutrients better absorbs the combination of fertilizer
applied, while chernozem tomato plants available to larger amounts of total N, which reveals
to balanced fertilization on soil type aluviosol.
The production differences were ensured statistically as the effect of the application of
complex mineral (NPK) of fertilizers in all variants, the increases of maximum production
being at doses of N120P100K100.
Total nitrogen found in tomato leaves is useful to future organic fertilization with these
plant residues.

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