ISHS Acta Horticulturae 507: III International Workshop on Models for Plant Growth and Control of the Shoot and Root Environments in Greenhouses
THE USE OF TOMGRO AS A SIMPLIFIED DIAGNOSTIC TOOL FOR GROWERS |
| Authors: | H. Pien, R. Lemeur, W. De Cordt, W. Baets |
| Keywords: | tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), graphical tracking, yield evaluation, production time |
| Abstract:
The use of the existing TOMGRO model for predicting tomato yield was expanded to a tool to assist the growers in evaluating their yield. A simplified concept, based on graphical tracking, was set up to give a warning message to the grower when his current yield is systematically below a simulated optimal yield. A theoretical “reference growth curve” of the cumulated node number, the cumulated number of harvested fruits and the cumulated fruit dry weight was simulated using optimal climate conditions. This curve is given to the grower, who can compare his own yield with the predicted optimal yield at any particular moment. When his yield is systematically lower than the expected yield by simulation, the cause of the yield loss can be discovered by further simulations with adapted parameters. In a very limited preliminary test, carried out with data collected in a selected company, the observed number of stem segments fell within the target range of the simulated value ± 10 %. The concept as described in the manuscript provides in a simple, objective diagnostic tool which can be directly used by the grower. The reliability of the concept under practical conditions should still be tested further. In addition to the evaluation concept, assuming standard conditions, the number of days to obtain a specific yield can be calculated for different starting dates in the growing season. This knowledge can be used to predict the labour requirements and the supply to the auctions in a certain period. | |
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