The objective of this experiment is to investigate influences of potassium chloride (KCl) and potassium sulphate (K_2S0_4) supplement to nutrient solution on fruit quality, yield and plant growth of cherry tomato.
1. In 1.O unit (standard solution)+KCl 1200 ppm treatment, the soluble solids content, total sugar content, titratable acidity and percent of dry matter of fruit increased remarkably, whereas fruit weight decreased in three cultivars. In 1.0 unit+K_2S0_4 treatment, the soluble solids, total sugar content and percent of dry matter of fruit less increased than in KCl treatment. Fruit weight in K_2S0_4 treatment was equal to that in control or it tended to increase in all the cultivars. As compared with control, in 'Sun Cherry' and 'Akakokko' solid-acid ratio in K_2S0_4 treatment increased, but this ratio in KCl treatment decreased due to increase in titratable acidity. The difference of fruit hardness was not recognized among all the treatments.
2. In KCl treatment yield tended to decrease in all cultivars.
3. Leaf length, leaf width, fresh weight, dry weight and leaf area of cherry tomato plant decreased in KCl treatment but they were equal or increased in K_2S0_4 treatment. Stem diameter did not differ in all the treatments.
4. Thus, it was recognized that fruit quality was improved by the supplement of KCl to the standard solution with decreasing yield compared with control (2.0 units), whereas fruit quality in the supplement of K_2S0_4 to the standard solution was equal to that in control without decreasing yields.