Impact of various growing methods on tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) yield and sensory quality

Abstract

The effect of various growing methods of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cv. Hector on fruit yield and sensory properties was examined. The growing methods used were: bare soil (BS), black plastic mulch (BPM), bare soil with polypropylene row cover (BS + RC) and black plastic mulch with polypropylene row cover (BPM + RC). The yields of all growing methods were reduced during growing season of extreme rainfall. The results show that the use of BPM + RC resulted in the highest total fruit yield (15.93 t ha-1). By using row cover (BS + RC or BPM + RC) it has been observed that marketable yield could be significantly higher than in the BS and the BPM treatments. Plants grown in the BPM and in the BPM + RC yielded larger number of fruits in comparison to plants in the BS or in the BS + RC. The fruit height and diameter were not affected by the treatments. This study also gives a sensory characterisation of various growing methods as an indicator of suitability for growing and marketing of tomatoes. Tomatoes grown in the BPM + RC resulted in the highest total taste intensity.