Producing of Tomato Crop using Solar Energy in Hydroponic System

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the effect of applied some engineering parameters, such as  three different level of ambient temperature (25, 30, and 35°C), and three different levels of nutrient irrigation flow rates (10, 15, and 20 l.hr^-1), and three different plant densities (1, 2, and 3plant.pot^-1), on some productive and vegetative characters for(Redgaida BI 1-16)  is a variety of tomato in hydroponic system. In addition, the effect of the treatments on water uses efficiency (WUE), the power requirements (PR), specific power (SP), and the operation costs were estimated. Where the results showed that the best results under the chosen variety of tomato were obtained at ambient temperature average about 25°C, it was producing the total yield about 26.33 kg.m^-2,consumed total power about 940.11watt, with specific power of 35.7watt.kg^-1, with water use efficiency 31.92 g.l^-1, and it costs about 5.22LE.kg^-1 of tomato. The optimum level of  nutrient irrigation flow rate  was at the  average of 10 l.hr^-1,it was producing the total yield about 27.06 kg.m^-2, consumed total power about 940.11watt, with specific power of 34.74 watt.kg^-1, with water use efficiency 32.72 g.l^-1, and it costs about 5.08LE.kg^-1. The plant densities 3 plants.pot^-1 considered the best treatment for the studied tomato variety. It was producing the average about 24.8 kg.m^-2, consumed total power about 940.11watt, with specific power of 37.91 watt.kg^-1, with water use efficiency 24.78 g.l^-1, and it costs about 5.54 LE.kg^-1