The effects of fluid sowing pre-germinated seeds and transplanting on emergence, growth and yield of outdoor bush tomatoes

Abstract

Experiments on outdoor bush tomatoes cv. Sleaford Abundance were conducted during 3 years to compare seedling establishment from fluid-sown pre-germinated seeds with that from conventionally sown dry seeds and to compare the effects on ripening and yields of these establishment methods with transplanting. Fluid-sown pre-germinated seeds emerged about 15 days earlier than conventionally sown dry seeds from sowings made in late April (mean soil temperature at seed depth from sowing to emergence ranged from 9 to 11-5 °C) and about 6 days earlier from sowings made in mid-May (mean soil temperature ranged from 12 to 15 °C). The percentage seedling emergence from pregerminated fluid-sown seeds was, on average, 57 % from the earlier sowings and 65 % from the later sowings, 34 and 24 % higher, respectively, than from dry seeds sown conventionally. Plants from fluid-sown pre-germinated seeds were about 50 % heavier than those from dry seeds at all stages of growth up to flowering. Crops established by fluidsowing started to ripen 7 days earlier than those established from dry seeds, when averaged over sowing dates and years. Yields of ripe marketable fruit > 35 mm in. size from crops established from pre-germinated seeds were 35-2 t/ha, averaged over sowing and planting dates, 37 % higher than from dry seeds though 51 % lower than from transplants. In the two years with good growing seasons crops fluid sown in late April gave as good yields as those transplanted in late May and early June, after the last frosts, though in the cool wet year yields from fluid-sown crops were considerably lower than those from transplanted crops. Yields of ripe, marketable fruit from 'bare-root' plants raised from pre-germinated seeds in unheated Dutch-light structures were, on average, 48-5 t/ha, 25 % higher than from plants raised in soil blocks in a heated glasshouse.

Stand Establishment of Fluid-drilled Tomato in Rye and Wheat Tillage Systems

“…Fluid-drilled raw and germinated tomato populations for the early planting dates in 1981 and 1982 varied from 10,000 to 30,000 plants/ha, while late planting dates averaged from 60,000 to 80,000 plants/ha. These results are different from those of Gray et al (1979), where sowing germinated seeds increased plant stands compared to raw seeds. Sowing germinated seed compared to untreated seed had little effect on percent emer-Tomato stands were similar in NT and CT for the 8 May planting date in Expt.…”

“…Fruit yields averaged 32 and 22 Mg-ha -l for GS and RS, respectively. Gray et al (1979) also reported significantly higher yields from fluid-sown GS than for RS for all planting dates. There was no interaction between tillage system and type of seed for fruit yield (data not shown).…”

“…1978). Tomatoes respond well to fluid drilling, resulting in denser stands (Bussel and Gray, 1976;Pill and Fieldhouse, 1982) and higher fruit yields (Ghate and Phatak, 1981;Gray et al, 1979). Our study was conducted to evaluate the effects of NT and fluid drilling at several planting dates on the establishment and yield of tomato.…”

“…gence when soil moisture levels were adequate (Finch-Savage and Pill, 1990); however, fewer seedlings emerged from germinated seeds when seedbed conditions were poor (Finch-Savage, 1987). Late planting dates have been reported to improve tomato stand establishment from both raw and germinated seed (Gray et al, 1979). Improved establishment with later planting dates may be due to increased soil temperatures or decreased toxicity associated with decomposing crop residues (Patrick, 1971).…”

The Tomato Crop

“…The provision of optimum conditions during the germination period has yielded favourable responses in comparison to dry seeding. Gray, Steckel and Ward (1979) reported advantages of 15 and 6 days in soils at 11.5 and 15°C, respectively. Similarly, Bussell and Gray (1976) and Bussell (1980) have reported the emergence of fluid-drilled tomato seedlings to be 15 and 17 days earlier than those dry-seeded in soils at 9-11 °C.…”