MECHANIZATION AND INPUT REDUCTION IN PROCESSING TOMATO CROPPING : AGRONOMIC ASPECTS; BUILDING AND TESTING OF APPROPRIATE TECHNICAL WAYS OF MANAGEMENT

This study deals with the agronomic feasibility and the results of mechanized ways of management for processing tomato which were likely to meet the following main objectives: a) field state suitable to mechanical harvest, b) satisfying yield (60 to 80 t.ha^-1), c) input reduction.
The agronomic contraints deriving from them and pluridisciplinary scientific results were used as a base of reasoning and then of building technical management schedules.
Most of these contraints have been considered and integrated into ways of management of processing tomato crops in large plots during 3 years (1985–86–87) on a clay alluvial soil.
Management decisions were taken according to periodical simple diagnoses based on observing, counting or measuring.
The main objectives were satisfied namely: 1) a total mechanization (except one or two partial hand weedings), with a reduced number of operations, 2) reduced fertilization: for P, in a poor soil, half of the current supplies and for N about one quarter, 3) reduced plant protection, including biological means, 4) good field fitness to mechanical harvest, 5) annual yields respectively: 78, 75 and 50 t.ha^-1. The results show that it is possible to produce otherwise and cheaper while reducing resources wasting and improving environment safety.

III International Symposium on Processing Tomatoes

Y. DUMAS

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1990.277.16