Remineralizador de solo em substituição à adubação química de plantio em tomateiro industria

Prévia do material em texto

1 
DOI: 10.55905/rdelosv18.n64-010 
ISSN: 1988-5245 
 
Originals received: 1/3/2025 
Acceptance for publication: 1/27/2025 
 
Revista DELOS, Curitiba, v.18, n.64, p. 01-13, 2025 
 jan. 2021 
Soil remineralizer as a replacement for chemical fertilization in industrial 
tomato cultivation 
 
Remineralizador de solo em substituição à adubação química de plantio em 
tomateiro industrial 
 
Remineralizador de suelo como sustituto de la fertilización química en la 
siembra de tomate industrial 
 
Tatiana Tozzi Martins Souza Rodrigues 
Doctor in Phytopathology 
Institution: Instituto Federal Farroupilha 
Address: Jaguari – Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil 
E-mail: tatiana.rodrigues@iffarroupilha.edu.br 
 
Allieksiei Castelar Perim Souza Rodrigues 
Undergraduate Student in Agronomic Engineering 
Institution: Centro Universitário de Caratinga 
Address: Caratinga – Minas Gerais, Brazil 
E-mail: castelarperim@yahoo.com.br 
 
Pedro Guilherme Martins Rodrigues 
Graduate in Agronomic Engineering 
Institution: Instituto Federal do Norte de Minas Gerais 
Address: Januária – Minas Gerais, Brazil 
E-mail: peguimarod@gmail.com 
 
ABSTRACT 
Tomato is one of the major agricultural crops globally, widely consumed both fresh and 
processed. However, the high cost of production in Brazil, particularly due to the reliance on 
imported fertilizers, presents a significant challenge to the production. One alternative for 
fertilizing crops is the application of soil remineralizers (REM) as a substitute for soluble 
fertilizers. This study aimed to evaluate the use of Ipirá Fértil® REM in industrial tomato 
cultivation as a substitute for NPK fertilizers during planting. An experiment was conducted at 
Fazenda Galheiros in Januária/MG, Brazil, using two treatments: 3 t.ha-1 of Ipirá Fértil® REM 
and 1.2 t.ha-1 of NPK (4-30-10) in the furrow. Soil and leaf samples were analyzed for nutrient 
content, and tomato production was assessed in terms of the mass of ripe and green fruits, number 
of rotten fruits, and Brix degrees. The results showed that REM fertilization did not significantly 
affect tomato yield compared to NPK fertilization. Both treatments resulted in a similar quantity 
of nutrients in the soil and leaves, although plants treated with REM accumulated more silicon 
in their leaves. The study suggests that REM can replace NPK fertilizers in tomato cultivation 
without compromising productivity and may improve plant resistance to biotic and abiotic 
stressors. REM's slow-release properties make it a sustainable alternative to soluble fertilizers, 
offering long-term benefits with reduced environmental impact. 
 
 
 
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Keywords: rock dust, rock application, NPK, sustainable agriculture, Solanum lycopersicum. 
 
RESUMO 
O tomate é uma das principais culturas agrícolas no mundo, amplamente consumido tanto fresco 
quanto processado. No entanto, o alto custo de produção no Brasil, particularmente devido à 
dependência de fertilizantes importados, representa um desafio significativo para a cadeia 
produtiva. Uma alternativa de fertilização das lavouras e através da aplicação de 
remineralizadores de solo (REM) em substituição aos fertilizantes solúveis. Este estudo teve 
como objetivo avaliar o uso do Ipirá Fértil® REM no cultivo do tomate industrial como substituto 
dos fertilizantes NPK, no plantio. Um experimento foi realizado na Fazenda Galheiros em 
Januária/MG, Brasil, utilizando dois tratamentos: 3 t.ha-1 de Ipirá Fértil® REM e 1,2 t.ha-1 de 
NPK (4-30-10), no sulco. Amostras de solo e folhas foram analisadas quanto ao conteúdo de 
nutrientes, e a produção de tomate foi avaliada em termos de massa dos frutos maduros e verdes, 
número de frutos podres e graus Brix. Os resultados mostraram que a fertilização com REM não 
afetou significativamente o rendimento do tomate em comparação com a fertilização com NPK. 
Ambos os tratamentos resultaram semelhante quantidade de nutrientes no solo e nas folhas, 
embora as plantas tratadas com REM tenham acumulado mais silício nas folhas. O estudo sugere 
que o REM pode substituir os fertilizantes NPK no cultivo de tomates sem comprometer a 
produtividade e pode melhorar a resistência das plantas a estressores bióticos e abióticos. As 
propriedades de liberação lenta do REM o tornam uma alternativa sustentável aos fertilizantes 
solúveis, oferecendo benefícios a longo prazo com impacto ambiental reduzido. 
 
Palavras-chave: pó-de-rocha, rochagem, NPK, agricultura sustentável, Solanum lycopersicum. 
 
RESUMEN 
El tomate es uno de los cultivos agrícolas más importantes a nivel mundial, ampliamente 
consumido tanto fresco como procesado. Sin embargo, el alto costo de producción en Brasil, 
particularmente debido a la dependencia de fertilizantes importados, representa un desafío 
significativo para la cadena productiva. Una alternativa para la fertilización de los cultivos es la 
aplicación de remineralizadores de suelo (REM) en sustitución de los fertilizantes solubles. Este 
estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar el uso de Ipirá Fértil® REM en el cultivo de tomate industrial 
como sustituto de los fertilizantes NPK en la siembra. Se realizó un experimento en la Fazenda 
Galheiros en Januária/MG, Brasil, utilizando dos tratamientos: 3 t.ha-1 de Ipirá Fértil® REM y 
1,2 t.ha-1 de NPK (4-30-10) en el surco. Se analizaron muestras de suelo y hojas para determinar 
el contenido de nutrientes, y se evaluó la producción de tomate en términos de la masa de frutos 
maduros y verdes, número de frutos podridos y grados Brix. Los resultados mostraron que la 
fertilización con REM no afectó significativamente el rendimiento del tomate en comparación 
con la fertilización con NPK. Ambos tratamientos resultaron en una cantidad similar de 
nutrientes en el suelo y en las hojas, aunque las plantas tratadas con REM acumularon más silicio 
en sus hojas. El estudio sugiere que el REM puede reemplazar los fertilizantes NPK en el cultivo 
de tomates sin comprometer la productividad y puede mejorar la resistencia de las plantas a los 
estresores bióticos y abióticos. Las propiedades de liberación lenta del REM lo convierten en una 
alternativa sostenible a los fertilizantes solubles, ofreciendo beneficios a largo plazo con un 
impacto ambiental reducido. 
 
Palabras clave: polvo de roca, aplicación de roca, NPK, agricultura sostenible, Solanum 
lycopersicum. 
 
 
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1 INTRODUCTION 
 
The tomato is one of the most cultivated and consumed vegetables in the world, used both 
fresh and processed into a variety of products such as sauces, juices and preserves. In Brazil, the 
harvested area of tomatoes was 59,010 ha with an average production of 70.6 t. ha-1 in 2023 
(IBGE, 2024). The states of Goiás, São Paulo, and Minas Gerais are the largest tomato producers, 
but cultivation can be found from north to south of the country (IBGE, 2024). The cost of tomato 
production for industrial purposes in Goiás was U$ 5,100.00. ha-1, resulting in a profit of U$ 
1,100.00. ha-1 with a production of 90t. ha-1 (Sistema Faeg, 2023). Since the producer's profit 
margin is small, every step of pre-planting, planting, crop management, and harvesting must be 
carefully carried out to ensure high production and financial return. 
Forty percent of the costs of production are related to the purchase of fertilizers, 
particularly supplies of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium (Sistema Faeg, 2023). The high 
cost of fertilizers in Brazil is a consequence of dependence on imports, which in 2024 reached 
36.73 million tons, approximately 80% of the national demand (Conab, 2024). The National 
Fertilizer Plan – PNF 2050 (Brazil, 2023) outlines key facts and perspectives for the organization 
of the fertilizer sector in Brazil: i) there is inefficiency in fertilizer use in Brazilian agriculture,ii) Brazil is the second-largest consumer of K in the world and imports 96.4% of what it uses, iii) 
over the next 15 years, there is a trend of increasing rock dust use. 
Rock dusting is the practice of applying ground rock powder to the soil with the aim of 
providing gradual delivery of macro and micronutrients to plants (Straaten, 2006). Due to the 
presence of silicates in the rock composition, rock dust can also have a corrective effect on the 
acidity of the soil (Priyono; Gilkes, 2008). Furthermore, it has been shown to improve soil water 
retention and promote microbial activity (Theodoro; Leonardos, 2006). Rock composition, soil 
type, and pH all affect how rock dust weathers and how readily its nutrients are available to the 
soil (Kämpf; Curi; Marques, 2009). 
The Normative Instruction – IN No. 5, of March 10, 2016, issued by the Ministry of 
Agriculture, Livestock, and Food Supply, establishes the rules for the registration of rock dust 
for agricultural use, which are now referred to as soil remineralizers (REM). From the perspective 
of various sectors related to agribusiness, rock dusting is seen as a strategic action to promote 
economic, ecological, and social sustainability in tropical agriculture (Martins et al., 2024). Rock 
 
 
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dust have been studied as fertilizers and soil conditioners for over 50 years (Leonardos; Fyfe; 
Kronberg, 1976), but it was from the Brazilian Rock Dusting Congresses held in 2009, 2013, 
2016, and 2021, as well as the previous Normative Instruction, that the topic received recognition 
and support for agricultural research in Brazil. 
According to scientific studies on the application of REM in tomato farming, rocks can 
both provide nutrients for the crop and protect them from pests and diseases. In one study, a crop 
site in Santa Maria, RS was treated with varying doses of amygdaloidal basalt powder, ranging 
from 1 to 4.5 t. ha⁻¹ (Dalmora et al., 2022). In comparison to plants treated with NPK, all doses 
of rock dust produced plants with comparable growth and yield. According to Enciso-Garay et 
al. (2016), adding 1.0 t. ha⁻¹ of basalt powder to tomatoes had a linear effect on fruit yield, mass, 
and quantity. 
Another study found that while adding organic material and rock dust (quartz, biotite, 
potassium feldspar, plagioclase, and olivine) to tomato cultivation soil increased enzyme activity, 
such as alkaline phosphatase, urease, catalase, and sucrase, it had no effect on biomass, plant 
height, or stem diameter (Li; Dong, 2013). These enzymes are essential for the upkeep of the soil 
microbiota and the nutrient cycle in the soil. The increased pH and calcium content of the 
treatment's soil resulted in a more than 80% control of Ralstonia solanacearum compared to the 
control, which made the plant resistant. 
Granite powder was sprayed directly onto the tomato plant's aerial portion to evaluate 
pest control in the crop (Faraone et al., 2020). When the powder was applied to the leaves, it 
controlled mites by reducing insect feeding and having a repellent effect. It was suggested that 
the feeding problems were caused by silicon (Si) deposition under the leaf's palisade tissue and 
epidermis. 
Silicon is a key element in mineral formation and is therefore abundant in rock dust. The 
addition of Si to soil increases the cation exchange capacity (CEC) due to the formation of new 
clay minerals with high biogeochemical activity (Matichenkov; Bocharnikova, 2001). These new 
clay minerals have a large surface area and can absorb water, phosphates, potassium, nitrogen, 
aluminum and heavy metals. Tomato is considered a plant with a limited capacity to absorb Si, 
according to the criteria of Ma and Takahashi (2002). However, when absorbed, the tomato plant 
transports Si as silicic acid (H₄SiO₄) and deposits it as insoluble silica in both the roots and under 
the leaf cuticle, providing resistance to various stresses (Huang; Roberts; Datnoff, 2011). 
 
 
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Proper fertilization is crucial to ensure increased productivity and fruit quality in 
tomatoes, in addition to contributing to the sustainability of cultivation by optimizing the use of 
essential nutrients and minimizing environmental impacts. Therefore, the study of alternative 
fertilizers to soluble chemicals is vital for improving production efficiency and reducing costs, 
with a focus on balancing productivity and the preservation of natural resources. Chemical multi-
nutrient fertilizers that change the soil's CEC and create new reactive mineral phases, like 
remineralizers, are not yet available. Thus, this study aimed to determine the industrial tomato 
production with the use of REM in the planting, analyze the chemical attributes of the soil after 
cultivation, and the plant nutrition compared to conventional cultivation with the use of NPK, to 
contribute to the adoption of new technology for the production chain of this vegetable. 
 
2 METHODOLOGY 
 
2.1 EXPERIMENTAL SETUP AND TREATMENTS 
 
The experiment was conducted in a tomato production area under a center pivot irrigation 
system at Fazenda Galheiros, located in the municipality of Januária/MG, Brazil, during the 
winter season of 2019. The local climate is classified as tropical with a transition to semi-arid, 
with average temperatures ranging from 26 to 30°C, dry winters, and rainfall concentrated in the 
spring and summer. The soil was characterized as a Dystrophic Red-Yellow Latosol with the 
following chemical characteristics in the 0-20 cm layer: pH (H₂O): 7.1; Ca (extracted with KCl): 
3.8 cmol.dm⁻³; Mg (extracted with KCl): 0.6 cmol.dm⁻³; K (Mehlich 1): 166.8 mg.dm⁻³; P 
(Mehlich 1): 63 mg.dm⁻³; Organic Matter: 1.5%; Base Saturation: 80.4%. 
The hybrid tomato cultivar used was HEINZ 1421, which is resistant to Verticillium 
dahliae race 1, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici races 1, 2, and 3, Meloidogyne incognita, 
Pseudomonas syringae, and tolerant to Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis, 
Ralstonia solanacearum, Alternaria linariae, Xanthomonas spp., and Phytophthora infestans 
(Kraft Heinz, 2024). In May 2019, 45 days following emergence, the seedlings were transplanted 
and in August 2019, fruits were harvested. The planting spacing was 0.30 m between plants and 
1.2 m between rows, resulting in a plant population of 33,000 plants.ha-1. 
Two treatments were administered in the planting furrow: a) 3 t.ha⁻¹ of Ipirá Fértil® and 
 
 
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b) 1.2 t. ha⁻¹ of NPK (4-30-10). The Ipirá Fértil® is derived from pyroxenite rock and is registered 
with the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Food Supply under registration number 001132-
0.000001. The mining company is in Ipirá/BA, Brazil. The REM has the following composition: 
4.2% K; 3.2% Mg; 3.9% Ca; 0.7% P; 26.6% Si; 0.3% Mn; 8.0% Fe; 1.4% Cu; 0.3% B; 36.1% 
Co; 112.0% Zn; 11.5% Mo (Ipirá Fértil, 2024). 
Each treatment was applied in 40 rows, each 50 meters long, over 0.2 hectares. The 
treatments were arranged in adjacent planting strips with 3.6 meters between them. The REM 
and NPK were applied to planting furrow seven days before transplanting the tomato seedlings. 
For both treatments, topdressing fertilization and cultural behaviors were the same. Pesticide 
applications were used to control pests and diseases in accordance with the schedule established 
by Karambi Alimentos, a tomato processing company based in Itacarambi/MG, Brazil. 
 
2.2 EVALUATIONS 
 
Eight one-square-meter sampling locations were available for soil and leaf sampling in 
each treatment. During the phenological stage of fruit ripening, leaf samples were collected for 
foliar chemical analysis. A soil sample was taken from a depth of 0–20 cm at harvest for chemical 
analysis, and five leaves were collected fromfive plants at each site to produce a leaf tissue 
sample. 
To evaluate production, mature and green fruits were harvested from three plants at the 
same sampling collection location previously described. The fruits' mass (kg) was measured 
using a digital scale. Rotten fruits were quantified and left in the field. In the Phytopathology 
Laboratory at IFNMG – Januária Campus, the Brix degree (°Brix) of 10 mature fruits from each 
sampling location was evaluated. 
 
 
 
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2.3 DATA ANALYSIS 
 
A completely randomized design with eight repetitions was used to evaluate the data from 
soil, foliar, and production analyses. Each sampling location for soil or plant material was 
considered as a repetition. The data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the 
means were compared using the Tukey Test at a 5% significance level. All analyses were 
performed using the Sisvar software (Ferreira, 2019). 
 
3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 
 
The nutrient contents in the soil did not differ between treatments (Table 1). In relation 
to the initial nutrient contents, as indicated by the soil chemical analysis described in the 
Methodology section, there was an increase in Ca, Mg, K, and P in the soil for both treatments, 
even after nutrient exportation by the crop. 
 
Table 1. Table 2: Potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and silicon levels in soil and leaves treated with 
NPK fertilizer and remineralizer (REM) 
 
Treatment 
Soil Leaf 
K* P* Mg* Ca* Si* K* P Ca Mg* Si 
mg.dm-3 cmol.dm-3 mg.kg-1 ..................g.kg-1................ mg.kg-1 
REM 274,6 214,5 1,2 5,1 0,2 49,0 0,4 b 57,4 a 2,8 4,9 a 
NPK 234,9 157,2 1,2 4,5 0,2 46,7 3,5 a 49,6 b 2,9 1,3 b 
CV 26,6 32,7 12,3 17,4 35,3 9,7 38,8 10,9 6,8 34,7 
* Not significant by the Tukey test at 5%; means followed by different letters in the same column differ from each 
other by the Tukey test at 5% significance; CV: coefficient of variation. 
Source: Prepared by the authors. 
 
The P, Ca, and Si levels varied according to the foliar chemical analysis (Table 1). The 
NPK exhibited a P content that was over eight times more than that of the REM. The tomato 
plants in the REM treatment, however, accumulated nearly four times the quantity of Si in their 
leaves (Table 1). According to Silva, Guedes and Lima (2012), the average reference nutrient 
level in tomato leaves, for a production comparable to that of Fazenda Galheiros (90 t. ha-1) is: 
P: 2 g.kg-1; K: 20 g.kg-1; Ca: 16 g.kg-1; Mg: 2 g.kg-1. Regardless of the treatment, all nutrients 
were accumulated in tomato leaves above the reference average, except for P in the plants from 
the REM treatment. 
 
 
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Production was unaffected when REM was used in place of NPK (Table 2). In the plants 
of both treatments, there was no difference in the average mass of mature and green fruits, the 
number of rotting fruits, or the ºBrix. Fruit decay was mostly caused by the oomycete 
Phytophthora capsici, and mechanical injuries associated with excess water from irrigation at 
specific locations in the field. 
 
Table 2. Mass of harvested tomato fruits, number of rotting fruits and Brix degree (ºBrix) of the fruits from the 
treatments with remineralizer (REM) and NPK fertilizer 
Treatment Fruit mass (Kg) Number of rotting fruits* ºBrix* 
Mature* Green* 
REM 16,5 1,2 25,0 4,8 
NPK 14,4 0,9 19,0 4,5 
CV 27,2 26,8 32,8 8,3 
* Not significant by Tukey's test at 5% significance, CV: coefficient of variation. 
Source: Prepared by the authors. 
 
Although the tomato plant only extracts a little amount of nutrients, its low absorption 
efficiency results in a significant requirement for fertilization (Silva; Guedes; Lima, 2012). The 
results show that, at least in soils with established fertility, or good nutrient availability, a 
remineralizer source can be used in place of soluble fertilizers. It can be concluded that the 
remineralizer can partially replace the total amount of soluble fertilizers used in the tomato crop 
without reducing yield because the cover fertilization was maintained in both treatments. 
The soluble fertilizer's rate of nutrient availability in comparison to the REM and its 
residual effect is a crucial topic of discussion. Even though this is not the scope of this study, 
understanding these variables will be helpful to identify the most effective fertilization over time, 
with the proposal of replacing, at least partially, soluble fertilizers with REM in tomato. Although 
the NPK fertilization provided 48 kg of N, 360 kg of P, and 120 kg of K at planting, these nutrient 
quantities likely did not become fully available to the plants, even though they are highly soluble 
sources. This occurs because P can be adsorbed in alkaline soils (Alvarez et al., 2002), and K 
can be leached in irrigated soils (Nunes et al., 2008) or fixed in clays (Chatterjee; Datta; 
Manjaiah, 2014). 
The adsorption of inorganic-P in soils with slightly basic pH, such as the soil studied, 
mainly occurs through adsorption to Ca, which can reach up to 67% of P (Alvarez et al., 2002). 
This demonstrates the inefficiency of phosphate fertilization in some production systems and 
why this nutrient needs to be supplied to plants in large quantities. More phosphorus has been 
 
 
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added to the soil than has been exported by crops since the Cerrado was first cleared for farming 
in Brazil. This imbalance has caused the nutrient to gradually build up in the soil. It is currently 
estimated that each hectare of land under cultivation in Brazil contains 300 kg of labile and 
moderately labile phosphorus on average (Wither et al., 2018). 
In terms of potassium, leaching in irrigated soils is associated with its increased 
unavailability, leading to inefficient plant nutrient use in the surface profiles (Nunes et al., 2008). 
Nunes et al. (2008) investigated the impacts of K leaching on irrigated soil using artesian well 
water from the municipality of Janaúba/MG, which is rich in Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, HCO₃⁻, Cl⁻, SiO₂, 
Mn²⁺, and Zn²⁺. Given the circumstances studied, it is acceptable to assume that K leaching and 
inefficient utilization of this nutrient are caused by the dynamics of K in the soil during center-
pivot irrigation in tomato growing. 
From another perspective, 3 t.ha-1 of REM (Ipirá Fértil®) has the potential to supply 126 
kg of K, 21 kg of P, 117 kg of Ca, 96 kg of Mg, 798 kg of Si, in addition to micronutrients. The 
negative effects of nutrient unavailability are mitigated because REM is thought to release 
nutrients gradually, allowing plants to better utilize them. The needs of annual crops can be 
satisfied by gradual availability, which is not always slow (Rodrigues et al., 2018; Araújo et al., 
2024). This availability depends on the type of rock, as well as the chemistry and biology of the 
soil. Due to its nutrient release characteristics, REM does not need to be applied as frequently as 
soluble fertilizers, as it has a residual effect for up to four years (Tebar et al., 2021). 
The loss of silicon during the soil formation process and agricultural activities may lead 
to depletion in certain cases, necessitating the use of soluble sources of silicon as fertilizers 
(Debona; Rodrigues; Datnoff, 2017). Producers are not highly concerned with using silicon-
based fertilizers for most crops, despite being aware of the importance of this nutrient for plants. 
Silicon was differentially accumulated in the leaves between treatments, with higher quantities 
in the plants that received REM. REM contains 26.6% Si in its composition. Thus, fertilization 
with REM added 798 kg of Si/ha in the form of silicates (SiO₄²⁻, SiO₂³⁻). REM is an abundant 
source of Si for any crop. In tomatoes, Si deficiency before flowering can reduce fertility,and its 
addition contributes to increased plant height, root mass, and fruit mass (Ma; Takahashi, 2002). 
Silicon can bring indirect benefits to the plant in resistance to insects and pathogens. The 
Si deposited in the tomato leaf, is to provide physical resistance to chewing insects, sap-feeding 
insects, and pathogens (Li; Dong, 2013; Debona; Rodrigues; Datnoff, 2017; Rodrigues et al., 
 
 
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2018; Faraone et al., 2020). In addition, Si in the plant can trigger the production of resistance 
enzymes in the plant against pathogens, such as polyphenoloxidase, glucanase, phenylalanine 
ammonia-lyase, and lipoxygenase, and assist the plant in defending against various aerial 
pathogens (Andrade et al., 2013). 
Evaluations conducted over a medium and long period of time will assist better 
understand the residual effects of REM use in subsequent harvests, as well as its impact on the 
physical and biological aspects of the soil, when compared to soluble fertilizers. Our 
understanding of and application of REM in commercial tomato production will also be improved 
by studies using different soil types and additional REMs. 
 
4 CONCLUSION 
 
In industrial tomato farming, the Ipirá Fértil® remineralizer, applied in the planting 
furrow, replaced NPK fertilization without affecting the quantity or quality of the fruits. By using 
the remineralizer, the plant can absorb and accumulate higher levels of silicon, which may 
enhance the crop's tolerance to both biotic and abiotic stressors. 
 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 
 
To Karambi Alimentos, Fazenda Galheiros, Ipirá Fértil® and the Federal Institute of Northern 
Minas Gerais, Januária/MG. 
 
 
 
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