ISHS Acta Horticulturae 534: International Conference and British-Israeli Workshop on Greenhouse Techniques towards the 3rd Millennium
SPATIAL VARIATION AND COMPARISON OF YIELDS OF TOMATOES GROWN IN SMALL EXPERIMENTAL COMPARTMENTS WITH THOSE IN LARGE COMMERCIAL UNITS |
| Authors: | S.R. Adams, V.M. Valdés, P.J.C. Hamer, B.J. Bailey |
| Keywords: | Lycopersicon esculentum, light integral, fruit, guard rows |
| Abstract:
This paper summarises work conducted to advance the understanding of the spatial variation in yield and environmental conditions in both small experimental and large commercial glasshouse units. Furthermore, it aims to establish whether the yields obtained from small compartments are representative of those from larger units and, if not, whether modifications are needed to enable prediction of the responses of commercial crops. There were no apparent trends in temperature, relative humidity, CO2 concentration, or in the timing of developmental plant processes within a small experimental unit. However, the outer rows, and to a lesser extent the south facing sides of double rows (particularly early in the year), gave increased fruit numbers and increased mean fruit size due to increased light interception. Similar trends where observed in two commercial glasshouse units. These yield data were then compared with data from 23 other commercial nurseries located throughout the UK. Much of the variation in yield between sites could be explained by the amount of total solar radiation received and the cumulative yields from the inner rows of the small compartment were similar to those recorded from the commercial sites that had received a similar amount of total solar radiation. This study shows that the results from properly conducted trials in small experimental compartments can be representative of the yields obtained from commercial units. The guarding of experimental plants is discussed. | |
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