Cost economics and shelf life effect on different coloured shade nets with varying shade intensities of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.,) var. arka Rakshak

An experiment was carried out to study the cost economics of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.,) as influenced by different coloured shade nets with varying shade intensities at the Precision Farming Development Centre, Department of Horticulture, GKVK, UAS, Bengaluru during 2013–14. The experiment was laid out with three replications comprising of fifteen treatments. The spacing followed was 60 cm x 45 cm. The data were statistically analysed by using Split plot design. The results revealed that the earliest flower initiation treatment T₉ (C₃P₃: Red colour shade net + 75 per cent shade) (28.10 days), highest number of flowers per plant as observed also in treatment T₉(C₃P₃: Red colour shade net + 75 per cent shade) 118.5 number and maximum per cent fruit set (78.17%) was obtained under red colour shade net, 75 per cent shade intensity respectively while early fruit set (7.77 days) and harvest (28.1 days) were found to be under red colour shade net, 75 per cent shade intensity respectively. The highest number of fruits per plant (88.15), yield per plant (8.73 kg) and yield per hectare (193.80 t/ha) are obtained under treatment T₉ (C₃P₃: Red colour shade net + 75 per cent shade).