Effect of stem pruning and staking time on growth and yield of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. Var. Mersa) at Mersa, North Wollo, Ethiopia


Research Articles | Published:

Print ISSN : 0970-4078.
Online ISSN : 2229-4473.
Website:www.vegetosindia.org
Pub Email: contact@vegetosindia.org
Doi: 10.1007/s42535-022-00472-6
First Page: 1080
Last Page: 1088
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Keywords: Growth, Staking time, Stem pruning, Transplanting, Tomato, Yield


Abstract


The main argument existed, by tomato growers’ who stake and prune their tomatoes is that such cultural methods tend to increase marketable yields because the fruit clusters develop high above the soil, free from dirt. While numerous trials have been carried elsewhere to determine the relative value of these practices, experimental evidence is lacking for northeastern Ethiopia. This experiment was carried out from October 2019 to March 2020 under irrigation in the eastern Amhara region, at Mersa Agricultural Research Station, Mersa College of Agriculture, Woldia University to determine the effect of stem pruning and staking time on the growth and yield of tomato. Factorial combinations of stem pruning (one, two, three stems pruning or no pruning) and staking time [2 week after transplanting (hereafter WAT), 4WAT and 6WAT] were arranged in randomized complete block design replicated three times. The study measures plant height, number of leaves and branches, days to flowering and maturity and fruit yield. Results showed that plants derived from two stem pruning and staked four weeks after transplanting produced the longest plant (87.67cm) than other treatments. Due to two stem pruning with 2WAT, number of flowers per cluster, number of fruits per plant, individual fruit weight, fruit length and fruit diameter were increased by 24%, 67%, 82%, 52% and 27%, respectively as compared to no stem pruning combine with 2WAT. When plants cultivated with two stem pruning staked at 2WAT, marketable and total fruit yields were increased by 64% and 36%, respectively as compared to no stem pruning combine with 2WAT. In conclusion, for field tomatoes production, under climate conditions as they are prevalent in northeastern Ethiopia, the cultivation with two stem pruning staked 2WAT appears to be highly recommendable but must be guided into location and season based experiments.


Growth, Staking time, Stem pruning, Transplanting, Tomato, Yield


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Acknowledgements



Author Information


Masrie Biruk
Department of Plant Science, College of Agriculture, Woldia University, Woldia, Ethiopia
askeb6253@gmail.com