The tomato fruits quality, measured by pH, by total soluble solids, by the entitled total acidity and by the N-NO3- and total N content in the dry matter, as a result of nitrogen doses and organic fertilization, was evaluated in two field experiments, conducted in spring/summer (nov/98 to feb/99) and autumn/spring (may/99 to oct/99). The experiments were carried out in Viçosa, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The N doses were 0,0 and 0,0; 93,5 and 110,0; 187,0 and 220,0; 374,0 and 440,0; and 748,0 and 880,0 kg/ha, in spring/summer and autumn/spring experiments, respectively, and the doses of organic matter in the form of hardened cattle manure, in dry base, 0 and 8 t/ha, in the experiments. The experimental design was of randomized blocks arranged in a 5x2 factorial design, with four replications. In the two periods, the pH, the total soluble solids and the entitled total acidity in tomato fruits did not alter with the increase of N doses, without and with cattle manuring; the N-NO3- content in the dry matter of the fruits increased linearly with the doses of N, without cattle manuring; in the presence of cattle manure this variable was not influenced by N doses.
Lycopersicon esculentum; bovine manure; pH; 0Brix; acidity; nitrate
