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Phenological Development and Production Potentials of Tomato Under Polyhouse Climate

M.R. Parvej
Department of Seed Science and Technology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh

M.A.H. Khan
Professor
Laboratory of Plant Ecology, Department of Crop Botany, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh

M.A. Awal
Professor
Laboratory of Plant Ecology, Department of Crop Botany, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

An experiment was conducted at the Field Laboratory of the Department of Crop Botany, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during the period from December 2007 to April 2008 to compare the phenological development and production potentials of two tomato varieties viz. BARI Tomato-3 and Ratan under polyhouse and open field conditions. Photosynthetically active radiation inside the polyhouse was reduced by about 40% compared to the outside (i.e. open field) while air and soil temperatures were always remained higher. From December to February the mid day air temperature under polyhouse and open field varied from 31.8 to 39.1ºC and 23.3 to 31.1ºC, respectively indicating about 8ºC higher air temperature inside polyhouse and during that time the average air temperature inside polyhouse was about 28ºC which was optimum for the growth and development of tomato plants. Relative humidity had opposite trends with that of air temperature i.e. it was lower inside the polyhouse as compared to open field. The above microclimatic variabilities inside polyhouse favoured the growth and development of tomato plant through increased plant height, number of branches/plant, rate of leaf area expansion and leaf area index over the plants grown in open field. Flowering, fruit setting and fruit maturity in polyhouse plants were advanced by about 3, 4 and 5 days, respectively compared to the crop raised in open field condition. Polyhoused plants had higher number of flower clusters/plant, flowers/cluster, flowers/plant, fruit clusters/plant, fruits/cluster and fruits/plant, and fruit length, fruit diameter, individual fruit weight, fruit weight/plant and fruit yield over open field condition. The fruit yield obtained from the polyhouse was 81 t/ha against 57 t/ha from the open field.

Keywords: Phenological development, polyhouse climate, production potentials, tomato.

Location: Crop Botany Field Laboratory, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh

Start Date: 00-12-2007

End Date: 00-04-2008

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Tomato

Objectives:

To compare the phenological development and production potentials of two tomato varieties viz. BARI Tomato-3 and Ratan under polyhouse and open field conditions.

Methodology:

The experiment was conducted at the newly built polyhouse (approximately 15 X 4.5 m size) of Crop Botany Field Laboratory, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh (24^o25" N latitude and 90^o50" E longitude) during the period from December 2007 to April 2008. After demarcation of the above measuring rectangular land, the either sides and its central line were marked at equal distance (Approx. 1.5 m). A 15 cm diameter hole to a depth of 50 cm was augured in all marked points. In the side holes three feet bamboo pegs and in the central holes eight feet bamboo poles were firmly erected by filling the earth around them. A top of the central poles a bamboo poles was fixed longitudinally across through which bamboo strips were fixed on side pegs in such a way so that it becomes the shape of quonset. The bamboo strips were fixed laterally (length wise) to give more strength to the structure. Ordinary plastic will be tightened around the bamboo strips to reduce the sharp edges which may otherwise damage the polythene sheets. After fabrication of the frame (D-shape) single inflated polyethylene film was spread over the structure from one into the other with extreme care to avoid any puncture or tearing. The polyethylene film should be buried on either side. One gate was installed in the east side of the structure by putting one more poles to regulate the temperature during summer and winter months.To reduce high temperature during summer months, polyethylene film was folded up in the side wall of the house. The experiment comprised of two factors; (A) two microclimatic treatments viz. polyhouse climate and natural climate (i.e. open field), and (B) two tomato varieties viz. BARI Tomato-3 and Ratan following a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replications. The size of a unit plot was 1 m X 1 m. Two adjacent unit plots and blocks were separated by 0.5 and 0.75 m, respectively. The seedlings of the tomato varieties were collected from the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Gazipur. At afternoon, healthy and uniform sized 25 days old seedlings were transplanted on 18 December 2008 in the plots as per experimental design. Rotten cow dung @ 10 t/ha and other fertilizers (urea, triple super phosphate and muriate of potash @ 550, 450 and 250 kg/ha, respectively) were applied in soil. The full dose of cow dung was applied at the time of land preparation. The total amount of triple super phosphate, muriate of potash and half of the amount of uea were mixed to the soil one day prior to seedling transplanting. The rest amount of urea was top dressed in two equal installments at 21 and 35 days after transplanting (DAT). Gap filling, weeding, irrigation, pest control and other intercultural practices were performed as and when necessary to optimize the growth and development of the crops. At daytime, the micrometeorological parameters like photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), air and soil temperatures, and relative humidity (RH) inside the polyhouse and the nearby open field were recorded. The data on morphological development like plant height, number of branches/plant, leaf area expansion rate and leaf area index (LAI) were collected at 15 days interval starting from 15 DAT to 75 DAT. The data on phenological development like days required to first flowering, first fruiting and first fruit maturity, and days to end of fruit harvest were recorded. The number of flower cluster/plant, flower/cluster, flower/plant, fruit cluster/plant and fruit/cluster was counted. The number of fruit/plant was counted and weight of harvested fruit/plant was recorded at weekly interval during fruit development starting from 65 and 93 DAT, respectively. The yield components like number of fruits/plant, fruit length, fruit diameter, weight of individual fruit, weight of fruit/plant, and fruit yield were recorded. The collected data on different parameters were compiled and analyzed statistically with the computer package MSTAT-C. The mean differences were evaluated by Least Significant Difference (LSD) or Duncan’s New Multiple Range Test.

Source of Information: The Journal Of Agricultural Sciences, Volume 5. Number 1, (2010)

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1. Government

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The better growth, development and yield of tomato were achieved under polyhouse due to the higher (optimum) temperature and lower relative humidity during the winter months (December to February) which positively influenced the morpho-phenological and physiological events of tomato plants. This simple and low cost polyhouse may be suitable for subtropical regions like Bangladesh where the temperature falls during winter. The growth and development of tomato plant becomes restricted during the cold winter months of December to February because of its season bound nature. Therefore, if tomato is planted under polyhouse, it will establish good stands that mature earlier. The optimum temperature accompanied by low relative humidity inside polyhouse hasten crop development and early maturity, so growers are benefited by being able to produce higher and off-season tomato which fetched premium prices in the market.

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