Tomato Plant Development and Elemental Accumulation1

Growth and elemental uptake patterns in field-grown plants of tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum mill.) were determined from 21 days after emergence to harvest. Dry weight accumulation was linear after 56 days at 5.55 g/day-plant. Dry weight accumulation after 70 days was mainly as fruit, which accumulated at 4.9 g/day-plant. Nutrient accumulation per day after 70 days was 20 mg N, 2 mg P, 25 mg K, 120 mg Ca and 10 mg Mg in the vines, and 150 mg N, 21 mg P, 231 mg K, 6 mg CA and 10 mg Mg in the fruit. Thus, after 70 days about 90% of the N, P and K, 5% of the Ca and 32% of the Mg uptake was in the fruit.