Effect of different doses of apple pomace to the substrate on photosynthetic efficiency and yield in common buckwheat in a model experiment

Abstract

By-products of apple juice pressing should be used for the benefit of the environment. One way to manage them is to add them to the soil in raw or composted form as a natural fertiliser and source of organic matter. A study was therefore undertaken to test several doses of apple pomace to the substrat on photosynthetic parameters and yield of buckwheat. The experiment was conducted in a vegetation hall under controlled, automatic irrigation to 60% of the field water capacity. The model study used the cultivar Red corolla and three doses of apple pomace applied to pots in the following amounts: 0 control, 70, 140 and 210 g per pot, which corresponded to field volume: 1, 2 and 3 t·ha-1. Four photosynthetic parameters (Pn, E, Gs and Ci) were measured and the water use efficiency was determined. Chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm and PI) was also investigated. The most suitable variant for buckwheat was the using 210 g which resulted in increased photosynthesis intensity, chlorophyll fluorescence and buckwheat yield.