What are the growth benefits of watering cherry tomatoes with acidic teas?

Abstract

Cherry tomatoes have a short growth cycle consisting of three phases: growth, flowering, and fruiting. In this study, cherry tomatoes were watered using water and three different teas with varying acidities—chamomile tea, green tea, and black tea. Previous studies typically focused on tomato growth in controlled environments with consistent pH levels. They often aimed to maintain the appropriate pH in soil for plants that thrive in acidic or basic soils, rather than neutral ones. However, this experiment aimed to explore the use of tea to alter soil pH for more effective tomato growth. While there exist numerous studies on acidic teas, this research consolidated their effects into a single study. The experiment involved 40 pots organized into groups of 10, each receiving one of the three teas or water. Soil was filled in these pots, and 7 germinated seeds were planted in each pot, followed by daily watering with 20 mL of the designated liquid. Throughout the study, soil pH levels remained stable across the different groups tested, suggesting that the primary factor influencing variations in leaf yield and plant height was gallic acid. However, the findings regarding plant height and leaf production were statistically not significant. Future work will involve analyzing different teas with diverse properties to expand understanding in this area. 

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