3.4. Reproductive growth
Cluster number per plant in aquaponics was lower than in hydroponics treatments, but it increased with foliar application of elements (Fig. 2). The highest cluster was observed in aquaponics with foliar K and Fe applications. Copper decreased cluster number
in hydroponics but it had no significant effect on aquaponic grown plants (Fig. 2). In the control treatments, there was no difference in fruit number and fruit yield between aquaponics and hydroponics grown plants (Figs. 3 and 4). These observations are in agreement with Graber and Junge (2009) who noted that there was no difference in fruit yields between hydroponically and aquaponically grown tomatoes. Except Cu, foliar spray
of all elements significantly increased plants fruit number and yield in the aquaponics in the order of: K> Fe >Mn > Zn >Mg > B. Due to low level of K and nutrients such as Mg, Fe, Mn and Zn in aquaponic system and subsequently in the leaves of aquaponicgrown
plants (data not shown), foliar application of these elements increased their concentration in aquaponic-grown plants, significantly (Fig. 5).