The effect of foliar feeding with Apaliqua LCF and ApaSil on the productivity and biochemical composition of tomato fruits (Solanum lycopersicum L.) in the conditions of the Central district of the Non-Chernozem zone

Relevance . In the context of modern agriculture, the issue of providing the population with highquality fruit and vegetable products is particularly important. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is one of the most important vegetable crops in the world due to its excellent taste and rich biochemical composition, including carotenoids (lycopene and β-carotene), ascorbic acid, phenolic compounds, and sugars. ApaSil (a silicon-containing adaptogen) and Apaliqua LKU (a liquid nitrogen-phosphorus fertilizer) are promising agents for increasing tomato productivity and quality. However, their combined effect on the biochemical composition of fruits in the Non-Chernozem Zone has not previously been studied. Therefore, studying the dose-dependent effect of these preparations under drip irrigation is a pressing issue, with both scientific and practical significance for the development of effective tomato cultivation technologies in the region. Materials and Methods . The research was conducted in 2020-2023 in open ground at the experimental plot of FSBSI FSVC. The objects of the study were cultivars of cultivated tomato Solanum lycopersicum L. from the collection of the laboratory of breeding and seed production of solanaceous crops of FSBSI FSVC: Magnat, Blagodatny, Chelnok and Gnom. Results . Field studies (2020–2023) revealed that the combined use of the silicon-containing adaptogen ApaSil (400 g/ha) and the liquid complex fertilizer Apaliqua ZhKU (40 l/ha) had a significant, dose-dependent positive effect on the productivity and biochemical composition of the fruits of all studied tomato varieties (Magnat, Blagovatny, Chelnok and Gnom) relative to the control. A two-factor analysis confirmed that the combined use of the products was more effective than their separate use. Apaliqua LCF fertilizer contributed primarily to the improvement in biochemical parameters, while the addition of ApaSil provided an additional, complex effect, especially at a rate of 400 g/ha. Conclusion . Data analysis showed that foliar feeding with ApaSil (400 g/ha) and Apaliqua LCF (40 l/ha) under drip irrigation effectively increases the productivity and accumulation of antioxidants (lycopene, β-carotene, vitamin C, phenolic compounds) of tomatoes in open ground in the Central region of the Non-Chernozem zone.