Standardisation of Population Density and Training Levels for Maximizing Growth and Yield of Tomato under Protected Conditions

The present investigation was carried out during kharif 2012 under semi controlled polyhouse at Vegetable Experiment Farm, Division of Vegetable Science, SKUAST-Kashmir, Shalimar. Two indeterminate hybrids of tomato namely Shalimar Tomato Hybrid⁻¹ and Shalimar Tomato Hybrid-2 released by SKUAST-Kashmir were planted at two spacings viz., 60 cm x 30 cm and 60 cm x 45 cm and the three levels of trainings viz. no training, one shoot plant⁻¹ and two shoots plant⁻¹ were followed resulting in twelve treatment combinations. The observations were recorded on various yield and yield attributing traits. Among all the treatment combinations, T₅ i.e., Shalimar Tomato Hybrid⁻¹ with wider spacing of 60 cm x 45 cm and one shoot plant⁻¹ recorded the highest fruit length of 4.98 cm, fruit diameter of 5.67 cm, flesh thickness of 8.83 mm, average fruit weight i.e., 89.36 g and the maximum fruit yield plant⁻¹viz., 8.13 kg. The highest number of fruits plant⁻¹ was recorded in T₇ i.e., Shalimar Tomato Hybrid-2 + Spacing 60 cm x 30 cm + No training viz., 133. The fruit yield per square meter and fruit yield obtained from a polyhouse was recorded to be highest in treatment combination Shalimar Tomato Hybrid⁻¹ + Spacing 60 cm x 30 cm + One shoot plant⁻¹viz., 47.100 kg and 35.325 quintals.