SISTEMA INTELIGENTE DE FERTIRRIGAÇÃO SAFERT NO CULTIVO DE TOMATE GRAPE: MANEJO HÍDRICO-NUTRICIONAL

Abstract

This research evaluated the performance of a novel fertigation approach, the Automated Fertigation System (SAFERT), against conventional scheduling in protected tomato cultivation through two complementary studies. In Chapter I, substrate-grown grape tomatoes were monitored for moisture, electrical conductivity (EC), and temperature using IoT-enabled moisture and EC sensors linked to programmable logic controllers. SAFERT maintained more consistent substrate conditions and enabled dynamic water-nutrient adjustments, leading to increased macro- (N, P, K) and micronutrient (Fe, B, Zn) availability in leaves and root medium, especially in the early cycle (June). In Chapter II, a 2×6 factorial design assessed Sweet Heaven tomato fruits over six phenological stages, measuring color coordinates (L*, a*, b*), soluble solids (°Brix), pH, and dimensions. SAFERT significantly enhanced red color intensity (a*), °Brix levels, and fruit length stability, whereas the conventional method offered low-tech simplicity and operational reliability. These findings position SAFERT as a promising automated fertigation method, currently validated only in the IF Goiano greenhouse—and underscore the imperative of subsequent commercial-scale trials to confirm its efficacy and economic viability in real-world production systems.