TITLE:
Microclimate modification using eco-friendly nets and floating row covers improves tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) yield and quality for small holder farmers in East Africa
AUTHORS:
Mwanarusi Saidi, Elisha O. Gogo, Francis M. Itulya, Thibaud Martin, Mathieu Ngouajio
KEYWORDS:
Lycopersicon esculentum; Solanum lycopersicum; Microclimate Modification; Protected Cropping; Tomato Yields; Tomato Quality
JOURNAL NAME:
Agricultural Sciences,
Vol.4 No.11,
November
19,
2013
ABSTRACT: Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) is one of the important
vegetables in supplying vitamins, minerals and fiber to human diets
worldwide. Its successful production in the tropics is, however, constrained by
environmental variations especially under open field conditions. Two trials
were conducted at the Horticulture Research and Teaching Field, Egerton
University, Kenya to evaluate the effects of agricultural nets (agronets)
herein called eco-friendly nets (EFNs) and floating row covers (FRCs) on
microclimate modification, yield, and quality of tomato. A randomized
complete block design with five replications was used. Tomato plants were
grown under fine mesh EFN (0.4-mm pore diameter) cover, large mesh EFN (0.9-mm
pore diameter) cover or FRC. The EFN and FRC were maintained either
permanently closed or opened thrice a week from 9 am to 3 pm. Two open control
treatments were used: unsprayed (untreated control) or sprayed with chemicals
(treated control). The use of EFN or FRC modified the microclimate with
higher temperatures, lower diurnal temperature ranges, and higher volumetric water content recorded compared with the controls. On the other hand, light
quantity and photosynthetic active radiation were reduced by the use of EFN
and FRC compared with the controls. The use of FRC and EFN resulted in more fruit
and higher percent in marketable yield compared with open field production. Fruit
quality at harvest was also significantly improved by the use of EFN and FRC. Fruits
with higher total soluble solids (TSS), lower titratable acidity (TA), and
higher sugar acid ratio were obtained in EFN and FRC treatments compared with
the controls. Fruits harvested from EFN and FRC were also firmer compared with
control fruits. These findings demonstrate the potential of EFN and FRC in
modifying microclimate conditions and improving yields and quality of tomato
under tropical field conditions.