Plant density as related to fertilizer needs for processing and fresh market tomatoes

Abstract

Abstract The effects of higher density plantings on tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) at three nutritional levels were evaluated over two years. At each of two commercial sites, four in‐row spacings were combined with three fertilizer treatments in a split‐block design with six replications. Increasing plant density of the processing cultivar, ‘U.S. 68’, by changing spacing from 23 cm in single rows to 30 cm in double rows (46 cm apart) increased total and vine yields substantially, lowered yield/plant and decreased fruit weight slightly. Decreasing spacing to 23 cm in double rows did not further increase total yield but yield/plant was reduced. At all spacings, fertilizer banded at 56N‐56P‐56K kg/ha increased total fruit and vine yields and increased yield/plant but reduced mean fruit weight. The higher banded rate, 112N‐112P‐112K kg/ha, showed few trends towards further effects. Reducing spacing of the fresh market cultivar, ‘Count II’, from 76 to 30 cm in single rows substantially increased tota...