Production of Chlorella vulgaris and Its Effects on Plant Growth, Yield and Fruit Quality of Organic Tomato Grown in Greenhouse as Biofertilizer

This study was carried out to examine the production of Chlorella vulgaris and its effects on growth, yield, and fruit quality of organically grown tomato production in greenhouses, C. vulgaris was cultured in a tubular photobioreactor system and was used in three different forms [dry algae application to soil (2.5 g seedling(-1)), liquid algae application to soil (250 mL seedling(-1)), foliar spray] used as biofertilizer on tomato production (cv. Simsek). Plants with no algae application were used as control. The experiment was designed according to randomized parcel and production was performed between March and June of 2014. Obtained results showed that using C. vulgaris as a biofertilizer increased plant growth, yield and some fruit quality (dry weight, total soluble solids, titratable acidity and vitamin C); among the used treatments, applications to soil -especially dry algae- showed better performance; C. vulgaris may be used as a nature- friendly fertilizer in organic farming.