Influence of Row Spacing and Plant Density on Single Harvest Tomato Yields1

Abstract

Abstract Ripe fruit yields of ‘Campbell 17’ tomatoes at the 50% ripe fruit stage increased from 6.0 to 13.1 tons per acre in the population range of 1,815 to 7,260 plants per acre. Constant yield was obtained in the population range from 7,260 to 29,040 plants per acre in single rows and from 4,840 to 58,080 plants per acre in the twin rows. Single harvest at the 85% ripe fruit stage resulted in a yield increase from 7.5 to 20.8 tons per acre in the population range from 1,815 to 9,680 plants per acre in single rows. A significant decrease in yield was obtained at the population of 29,040 plants per acre. The ripe fruit yield from twin rows at this harvest stage reached a nearly constant yield plateau of 19.3 to 22.8 tons per acre in the population range of 7,260 thru 29,040 plants per acre. Plant spacing of 3 inches in the row in both single and twin rows resulted in a significant yield reduction at the later harvest date. A power form curve expressed the yield per plant—plants per acre relationship at plant spacings of 6 to 12 inches in the single rows and from 6 to 24 inches in the twin rows.