THE EFFECT OF SOIL TEMPERATURE WHEN ASSOCIATED WITH LOW AIR TEMPERATURES ON THE CROPPING OF EARLY TOMATOES

Earlier trials at Fairfield Experimental Station have indicated that tomatoes will tolerate relatively low night temperatures (10°C) without adversly affecting total yield.
Night temperatures below this level result in a lowering of soil temperature below that considered necessary for a satisfactory fruit development.
Heated tomatoes were grown in 3 night temperature regimes that is, 13°C, 9°C and 5°C.

Plants at 9 and 5°C were grown with the roots at ambient temperature and also with root zone warming to a temperature of 25°C. Reduced night temperatures both with and without root zone warming resulted in plants which gave rather later fruit but eventually produced equivalent yields to the higher temperature treatment.
Heat meter readings indicated a saving of 20% fuel for the 9°C night temperature and 30% for the 5°C-

Root zone warming was achieved without any additional cost of fuel.

Symposium on More Profitable Use of Energy in Protected Cultivation

D.A.G. Jones, I. Sandwell, C.J.W. Talent

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1978.76.23