Technology Triples Tomato Tonnage

[rgiridhar]

Mr. P.M. Chinnasamy, a farmer in Dharmapuri, has harvested about 135 tonnes of tomato from his one hectare field in nine months using precision farming technology.

Higher yield
The yield is almost triple that of the farmers growing tomato under the conventional system of planting. Under the conventional system the crop is grown under channel irrigation and only about 25-30 tonnes of fruits can be expected, according to Mr. Chinnasamy.

The life of the tomato crops grown under normal cultivation (channel or furrow irrigation) is only 3-4 months, whereas the life span of the same crop grown under precision technology can be extended to 8-9 months, according to Dr. I. Muthuvel, Assistant Project Officer, Tamil Nadu Precision Farming Project in Dharmapuri.

The seeds were first sown in small plastic pots, and kept under a shade net in a nursery. Cocopeat was used as a growing medium. "The cocopeat was completely sterilised with chemical or under steam treatment before being used.

The seedling growth was uniform and without any pest and disease infestations," said Dr. Muthuvel. The main field was installed with an in-line drip irrigation system at a spacing of 1.5 m lateral intervals. Drippers at 60 cm spacing were used. About one hour of irrigation is sufficient to cover one hectare of land, according to Dr. Muthuvel.

The field was ploughed well by mixing about 25 tonnes of farmyard manure, 2 kg of azospyrillum and phospobacteria each, about 2.5 kg of pseudomonas and 1,172 kg of super phosphate.

Raised beds of about one foot height were formed and the laterals were placed at the centre of the beds. Planting was done on either side of the laterals at a spacing of 90 x 60 x 60 cm. About 20,000 plants were planted in one hectare. Drip fertigation (application of water soluble fertilizer along with water) was done through a 60-litre capacity fertilizer tank and once in three days starting from the day of planting.

Flower drop
Weeding was done once after 30 days and again one month later. The plants were tied to poles for support on the 30th day after planting. About 1.25ml of triacontanol and 0.25ml planofix hormone diluted in one litre of water were sprayed on the 30th, 60th and 75th day to control flower dropping.

Infestations control
The crop was found susceptible to infestations such as sucking pest, leaf minor and cutworm.

Spraying 2ml of triozophos diluted in one litre of water was found effective in managing sucking pest, leaf minor and cutworms infestations, while fruit borer infestation was controlled by spraying 2ml of endosulfan or chloripyriphos diluted in one litre of water.

The first harvest was done on the 65th day after planting. The fruits were uniform in size and the skin colour was deep red.

The fruits were sold at the rate of Rs.10-20 per kg. Mr. Chinnasamy, has earned a net income of about Rs. 5 lakhs from tomato cultivation in nine months.

For more information readers can contact Dr. I. Muthuvel, Assistant Project Officer, Tamil Nadu Precision Farming Project, 46/25 B, 66 feet road, Barathipuram, Dharmapuri district, Tamil Nadu, email: muthu_hort@yahoo.co.in, mobile: 9443715948.


Source: Hindu 22-Feb-07