PLANT VIGOUR AND YIELDS OF ORGANICALLY AND CONVENTIONALLY GROWN TOMATO CROPS IN TAIWAN

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is an economically important crop for both conventional and organic farmers.
In October 2005, replicated trials were established at three organic and three conventional farms [three matched farm pairs in Shinhua (SH), Madou (MA) and Sihu (SI), Taiwan]. Two hybrid processing tomato cultivars of determinate growth type were evaluated at each site.
Superior plant vigor characteristics (e.g., vine height and ground cover) were evident early in the season at one organic farm (in SH) and at one conventional farm (in SI). In two out of three farm pairs, significantly higher yields were produced on the conventional versus organic farms.
However, results at the organic farm in SH show that well managed, organically grown tomato crops can achieve similar marketable yields and similar or superior vine vigor compared to conventionally produced crops.
Yield potential was affected by individual farmer’s skills and specific site conditions as well as the general management system.

XXVII International Horticultural Congress – IHC2006: International Symposium on Sustainability through Integrated and Organic Horticulture

P. Juroszek, D. Ledesma, C.H. Ma, R.Y. Yang, H.M. Lumpkin, C.C. Lin, H.H. Tsai, D.L. Wu, P.M. Hanson, M.C. Palada

Lycopersicon esculentum, Solanum lycopersicum, growth, development, height, ground cover, yield

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2008.767.27