Introduction
Tomato cultivation is one of the most profitable agriculture business. Cultivating tomato is an excellent option for those looking to harvest a commercially important crop four times a year. Tomato farming is possible both in traditional farming and greenhouse farming.
It is the largest vegetable crop grown in the world after potato a,nd sweet potato. China ranks number one as the largest producer of tomatoes followed by India. Andhra Pradesh is the largest tomato producing state in India.
Record breaking
Use of tomato
Tomato is found in every kitchen worldwide in different forms irrespective of the cuisine. It is used in diverse ways in the form of salads, juices, sauces, ingredient for various culinary preparations, etc.
Climate for Tomato Farming
A warm but cool climate is needed for tomato. It cannot withstand frost. However, it cannot tolerate high light intensity as well since it affects the fruit pigmentation.
Being a warm season crop, tomato crop requires an ideal temperature of 21⁰ to 23⁰C. Tomatoes are highly sensitive to climatic changes. For ideal growth and yield, tomatoes need a diverse set of climatic conditions at every stage of growth such as seed germination, flowering, fruiting, etc. Tomato farming needs a warm and cool climate with medium amount of sunlight. A high amount of humidity and frost cannot be tolerated. Similarly, both heavy rainfall and a prolonged dry spell affect the growth of tomato plants.
Soil for tomato farming
Tomato grows very well on a wide range of soils, but it grows well on deep, well-drained soils with good drainage ability. Sandy loam to medium black soils is considered to be best suitable for Tomato cultivation.
For Tomato farming soil PH must be at 6-7 with soil with excellent drainage property.
Do the soil testing before starting the tomato farming from local agriculture department.
Season for Tomato Plantation
Tomatoes requires warm climate so it can grow throughout year in India but main season are
1. December to January
2. June to July
3. September to October
In the northern plains the transplantation schedule is as below:
July (Kharif crop)
October to November (Rabi crop)
February months (Zaid season)
It transplanted during September and October months in the southern plains only if adequate irrigation facilities are available. Similarly, in the northern plains, Rabi crop may not be taken since they may get affected by frosts during winter.
Tomato types around the world
1. Grape Tomatoes
Grape tomatoes are oblong and shaped like grapes. They’re about half the size of cherry tomatoes, with thicker skins. Grape tomatoes aren’t as sweet as cherry tomatoes, and their flesh is meatier and less watery.
Grape tomatoes are use in pasta salad, wraps, salsa, pizza, mini kabobs,salads, savoury bsudes etc
2. Heirloom tomatoes
Heirloom tomatoes are also often open-pollinated, which means that they are pollinated naturally, by birds, insects, wind, or human hands.
They often have colors, textures, sizes, and flavors that vary from species to species, in the same way that apple varieties do.
3. BEEF TOMATOES or beefsteak
The king of tomatoes, THE salsa tomato. Red Beefsteak tomatoes are large and meaty with lots of juice, making them ideal to use as a base for fresh sauces and dips. Red Beefsteak’s mild flavor makes them the perfect complement to any dish, without being too overpowering. They make a great addition to your classic hamburger or BLT, and can even hold their own as a patty substitute!
4. CHERRY TOMATOES
Cherry tomatoes are one the most versatile tomatoes around. With red, orange, yellow, and purple varieties, these tomatoes are a cooking mainstay, adding a burst of color and flavor to any meal. Sweet and tangy, cherry tomatoes can be cooked, grilled, sauced, and dried—and if you really can’t get enough—even eaten as a raw snack.
5. TOMATOES ON THE VINE
These tomatoes are left on the vine to soak in the plant’s nutrients until they are fully ripened. The sweet and juicy freshness of a ripe red vine tomato makes them a mainstay in any tomato lover’s kitchen. These tomatoes can do just about anything, from making the finest tomato soup you have ever tasted to adding a refreshing pop of flavor to sauces, jams, and salads. Slice them, dice them, roast them, eat them raw—the possibilities with a tomato on the vine are endless!
6. ROMA TOMATOES
Roma tomatoes are full of flavor with a tangy, garden-fresh tomato taste. This tomato is ideal for making a delicious stew, sauce, or tomato paste. For an even more intense flavor, try roasting your Roma in the oven and using it to create a tomato pesto or bruschetta topping that has a bit of a kick. With so many ways to use and a delicious flavor, it’s the perfect tomato to get adventurous with!
Tomato Varieties
1. Arkha rashak
• First Public Triple Disease Resistant Tomato F1 Hybrid In India
• Yields Up To 18 Kg/Plant
• Successfully Withstood Against ToLCV, BW & EB In Farmers’ Fields
• Earned An Average Net Income Ranging From Rs 4-5 Lakhs/Ac Depending On Seasons.
• Adoption Of Precision Farming Practices To Harness Full Yield Potential.
Link. https://www.iihr.res.in/india%E2%80%99s-first-triple-disease-resistant-tomato-f1-hybrid-arka-rakshak%E2%80%9D-brings-back-smile-farmers-face
2. Arka Shreshtha
An introduction from the India Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore. Fruits of this cultivar have a larger shelf life. The variety produces an average yield of 700 q/ha, and the weight of the fruits is around 60-70 grams, each.
3. Arka Vishal
With an average yield of 750 q/ha, this variety from IIHR, Banglore becomes one of the high yielding cultivars. The fruits of this variety are firm and round in shape, with a deep red color. These fruits are resistant to fruit cracking.
4. Suraksha Namdhari Seeds
This is resistant to bacterial wilt and based for south and north India. First picking 75-80 days after transplanting. Fruits are attractive with 100-gram weight.
Note : There are hundreds of Varieties available in market most of having high yield. You have to loose according to your area and location such as Pusa Hybrid 1, Pusa Hybrid 2, Pusa Hybrid 3 , Arka Abhijit, Arka Vishal, Arka Shresta, Arka Vardan, Vaishali, COTH 1 Hybrid Tomato, Rashmi, MTH 4, Naveen, Rupali, Avinash 2, Sadabahar, Sonali and Gulmohar.
Nursery preparation
Seedlings are raised during May-June, September October and December-January months for kharif, rabi and summer crops, respectively.
Generally, Seedlings are ready for transplanting within 30 to 45 days under open field condition Irrigate the nursery as and when required.
Manuring for tomato cultivation
Apply well-rotted farmyard manure/compost @ 20-25 t/ha at the time of land preparation and mix well with the soil. A fertilizer dose of 75:40:25 kg N:P 2O5:K2O/hectare may be given. Half the dose of nitrogen, full phosphorus and half of potash may be applied as basal before transplanting. One-fourth of nitrogen and half of potash may be applied 20-30 days after planting. The remaining quantity may be applied two months after planting.
Plantation of tomato
Transplantation is done in shallow furrows or flat beds as per the irrigation availability. During the monsoon and in case of heavy soils, seedlings are planted on ridges so that the water does not get logged. In case of hybrids and indeterminate varieties, seedlings must be staked using bamboo sticks. if planted in furrows then they are planted at a spacing of 30 cm from each other. For spring-summer crop the spacing maintained is 75 X 45 cm and 75 X 60 cm for autumn-winter crop.
Tomato is a well-suited crop for greenhouse farming. Controlled climate helps to achieve bumper yield with longer harvesting period. There are special varieties of seeds for tomato cultivation in greenhouse.
Tomato farming is also possible in hydroponics. The initial cost of hydroponics farming is comparatively very large but hydroponics gives the most yield per acre in tomato cultivation.
Weed control
First weeding operation started after 20 to 25 days of transplanting. Always maintain clean and weed free farm because weed competes with crop also they provide shelter to the various harmful insect.
Mulching is also good option control weed after black plastic (50 microns) mulching is mostly used which controls about 95% weeds.
Alternatively, you can use organic mulch like sugar cane trash, which controls about 60% of weeds.
Irrigation tomato
Tomato require regular irrigation , we can use flood method or other conventional method of irrigation.
For maximum yield from tomato crop, use drip irrigation method. During summer give water 6-7-day intervals and in winter season give water after of 10-15 days.
If possible, use drip irrigation. With the help of this irrigation method, you can able to save about 60-70 percent of the water and increase 20%-25% more production.
Pest and Disease Control
1. Leaf Miner: Maggots of leaf miner feed on leaf and make serpentine mines into leaf. It affects the photosynthesis and fruit formation.
At initial stage, take spray of Neem Seed Kernel Extract@5%, 50gm/Ltr of water. To control leaf miner, spray with Dimethoate 30EC@250ml or Spinosad@80ml in 200Ltr of water or Triazophos@200ml/200Ltr of water.
2. White fly
The nymphs and adults of white fly suck the cell sap from the leaves and weaken the plants. They secrete honey dew on which black sooty mould develops on leaves. They also transmit leaf curl diseases.
After sowing of seeds in nursery, cover bed with 400mesh nylon net or thin white cloth. It helps to protect seedlings from pest-disease attack. To check infestation use yellow sticky traps coated with grease and sticky oils. To control spread of whiteflies, uproot and destroy affected plants. In case of severe infestation, take spray of Acetamiprid 20SP@80gm/200Ltr of water or Triazophos@250ml/200litre or Profenophos@200ml/200litre of water. Repeat the spray after 15 days.
3. Fruit Borer
Female kite lay eggs on flowers. After leaving the egg, the larvae start to eat leaves. After that, they start to eaten fruit. The larvae put holes in the fruit and put half of the body in the fruit. This pest could damage 40%-50%of fruits production
Marigold as a trap crop with the help of this trap early pest attack detection is possible which is very helpful for the Effective management sprays of Ha NPV viruses after 42 days of transplanting.
At periodic intervals (3-4 times) mechanical collection and destruction of Fruit .
4. Root-knot Nematodes
This affects the uptake capacity of nutrition and water of the plants. This causes stunted plants with yellow foliage resulting in yield reduction.
Use nematode resistant variety Follow crop rotation with marigold crop use seed treatment
if possible soil carried out soil solarisation process. Apply Carbofuran 3G at 1 kg ai/ha at transplanting.
5. Gram Pod borer or Heliothis armigera
It is a major pest of tomato. Crop loss due to Helicoverpa is about 22-37% if not controlled at proper stage. It feeds on leaves also on flower and fruits. On fruits they make circular holes and feed on flesh.
In case of initial infestation, handpicked grown up larvae. At early stage use HNPV or Neem extract@50gm/Litre of water. To control fruit borer, put 16 pheromone traps/acre at equal distance after 20 days of transplanting. Change lure in every 20 days interval. Destroy infested parts. If pest population is high, spray Spinosad@80ml+sticker@400ml/200Ltr of water. To control shoot and fruit borer, spray Rynaxypyr(Coragen)@60ml/200Ltr water.
6. Wilt and Damping off
Moist and poorly drain soil causes damping off disease. It is soil borne disease. Water soaking and shriveling of stem occurs. Seedlings killed before emergence. If it appears in nursery the entire lot of seedling may get destroyed.
To prevent root rot, drench soil with 1% Urea@100gm/10Ltr and Copper oxychloride @250gm/200Ltr water. To control wilt, drench nearby soil with Copper oxychloride@250gm or Carbendazim@400gm/200Ltr of water. Increased temperature and humidity due to watering facilitate fungal growth at roots, to overcome it, apply Trichoderma 2 kg/acre along with cow dung near roots of plants. To control soil born disease, drench soil with Carbendazim@1gm/Ltr or Bordo mix@10gm/ltr, 1 month after that apply 2 kg Trichoderma /acre, mixed with 100kg cow dung.
7. Late Blight
Disease on leaves, appear as pale green irregular spots that turn into purplish brown and later become nearly black. Margins of the spots were pale green to water soaked.
Infected fruits showed characteristic brown to purple discoloration, often concentrated on the sides or upper fruit surface
Use and planting material from the disease-free area.maintain field Sanitation.
Staking of plants which reduce Fruit touches chance to the ground In cloudy condition take Preventive sprays of Mancozeb 75% WP at 0.25% (2.5 gm per liter water) take this spray after 5 to 7 days interval.
8. Powdery Mildew
Patchy, white powdery growth appears on lower side of leaves. It parasitizes the plant using it as a food source. It commonly occurs on older leaves just before or at fruit set. But it can develop at any stage of crop development. In severe infestation it causes defoliation.
Avoid water lodging in field. Keep field clean. To control this disease, spraying with Hexaconazole along with sticker @1ml/Ltr of water should be done. In case of sudden rain, chances of powdery mildew is more. Mild infestation takes spray of water soluble sulphur@ 20gm/10Ltr of water 2-3 times with interval of 10 days.
9. Early Blight
Common and major disease of tomato. Initially small, brown isolated spots are observed on leaf. Later spots are seen on stem and also on fruits. Fully developed spots become irregular, dark brown color with concentric ring inside spots. In severe condition, defoliation occurred.
If infestation of early blight is observed, take spray of Mancozeb@400gm or Tabuconazol@200ml/200Ltr. Repeat spray 10-15 days after first spray. In cloudy weather, chances of incidence of early and late blight increases. As a preventive measure, spray with Chlorothalonil@250gm/100Ltr of water. Also sudden rain pattern aggravate blight and other diseases take spray of Copper based fungicides@300gm/Ltr+Streptocycline@6gm/200Ltr water to control blight disease.
10. Fruit Rot
Major disease of tomato and observed due to changing weather. Water soaked lesions are appeared on fruits. Afterwards they turn into black or brown color and causing rotting of fruits. Before sowing, do seed treatment with Tricoderma@5-10gm or Carbendazim@2gm or Thiram@3 gm/Kg of seeds. If infection observed in field collect and destroy infected fruit and leaves which lies on ground. Fruit rot and anthracnose attacked mostly observed in cloudy weather, to control take spray of Mancozeb@400gm or Copper Oxychloride@300gm or Chlorothalonil@250gm/200Ltr water. Repeat spray with 15 days interval.
Note : try to use organic pesticides and herbicides.
Staking of plants
The long growing varieties of tomatoes need to be specially supported. At the time of plant growth, plants should be staking with the help of string or wire.
With the help of this support, fruits cannot expose to soil and water; hence there is no problem of tomato fruit rotting so that more production can be obtained.
Harvesting
The first harvesting of plants usually starts in 75 to 90 days from planting. While Considering the market distance and transport mode, tomato fruits should be harvest as follows.
1) Green stage:
If you are sending tomato fruit for long distant market, then harvest at Maturity stage with green colour .
2) pink stage:
The tomato should be harvested by changing the color of the green color to the pinkish appeared. It is better to send such fruits to nearby markets.
3) Maturity stage:
To sell tomato in the local market, harvest after the fruit is reddish on the tree.
4) Full maturity:
In this state, the fruit is fully reddish and slightly red on the tree. Such fruits are useful to make durable materials such as ketchup, sauce, soup, chutney, etc.
After removing the fruit, grading the fruit, packing it in the corrugated boxes.
Yield
If you grow some good variety of tomato you can easily produce in 150 to 200 quintals.
Best practices to get more yield and income analysis
1. Land preparation for beginners use 1 acres land 1.5*3 ft dimensions and make 1.5 ft width of bed and 1ft height .
2. Use mulching sheet on bed it will help to control weeds and pests.
3. Use drip irrigation for irrigation it reduce the cost and water. For 1 acres drip irrigation cost is 25000rs . You can purchase for companies they will install .
4. Use of power tiller to remove weeds it reduce the cost also can make bed with help of rotavator.
5. Contact local mandi and market or deals in advance before harvesting the crop.
6. Use good tomato varieties which has high yield such us arkha rakshak and namdhari etc
7. You staking it will give more production
8. Use 3g method to increase the production.
9. Avoid high costing pesticides use some conventional method.
10. Crop insurance is most important to recover the loss due to climate .
Income analysis
Land preparation 5000
Seed cost 2000rs
Manure and fertilizers 5000rs
Manpower cost 5000rs
Total cost will 2000rs
Then income
If we plant arkha rakshak or namdhari
Plant 5000
Fruit per plant 5
Total yield 25000kg
If price is 5rs /kg income 1.25lac
If price is 10rs /kg income 2.5lac
If price is 20rs/kg income 5 lakh
Conclusion : If you crop is perfect and fruits is perfect then you can make minimum income 1 lakh and maximum 5 lakh and more . If depends upon market price and demand.
But for this hard work and dedication required.
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