Effect of Inter and Intra-Row Spacing on Yield and Yield Components of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Linn.) in South Tigray, Ethiopia

Abstract

Tomato is one of the vegetables with its highest production in south Tigray and growers used as a source of income due to its cash value nature. A field experiment was conducted at Tumuga and Fala locations during 2012/2013 cropping season under irrigation condition. The objective was to determine the best inter and intra-row spacing for optimum yield and yield components of tomato. The treatment consisted of factorial combination  of two inter-row spacings (50 and 100 cm) and three intra-row  spacings (20 cm, 30 cm and 40cm) using  Randomized Complete Block Design in a factorial arrangement(2x3) with three replications. The highest total and marketable fruit yield was obtained from 20 cm intra-row spacing with 50 cm inter row spacing. On the other hand, the lowest total and marketable fruit yield was obtained from the wider spacing of 40 cm intra-row with 100 cm inter-row spacing. The present result indicates that determinate tomato type can produce higher total and marketable fruit yield under narrowly spaced plants. From this study it could be concluded that appropriate inter and intra-row spacing with variety selection could be practiced to increase the yield and quality of tomato plant. Thus, Tomato (Roma VF variety) growers around the study area can be benefited if they use narrow spacing (20 cm intra and with 50 cm inter-row spacing).

Key words: Tomato, intra-row spacing, inter-row spacing, yield