POTENTIAL PRODUCTION OF ORGANIC GREENHOUSE TOMATO (SOLANUM LYCOPERSICUM) BY SMALL FARMERS IN THE COASTAL DESERT OF PERU
Tomato production in Peru is mostly concentrated in semi-arid coastal areas were soil fertility and pest management are critical factors.
High humidity and temperature increase the pressure from pests and diseases.
In an attempt to provide small vegetable farmers in areas around Lima with alternatives for organic tomato cultivation, we evaluated management techniques such as soil incorporation of horse and green manure, soil inoculation with beneficial microorganisms, and cultivar selection in small greenhouses (200-500 m2). Experimental research with determinate cultivars obtained average yields between 7.2-10.5 kgm-2. Production significantly increased when horse manure was used before planting, and incorporation of a non-legume (buckwheat, Fagopyrum esculentum) green manure resulted in yields up to 12% higher than incorporation of a legume (Crotalaria juncea) crop.
An experiment using a commercial product based on beneficial microorganisms such as N-fixing and fermenting bacteria resulted in lower yields than the control treatment.
Reynafarje, X., Siura, S., Calero, Y. and Barreda, A. (2014). POTENTIAL PRODUCTION OF ORGANIC GREENHOUSE TOMATO (SOLANUM LYCOPERSICUM) BY SMALL FARMERS IN THE COASTAL DESERT OF PERU. Acta Hortic. 1041, 299-306
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2014.1041.36
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2014.1041.36
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2014.1041.36
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2014.1041.36
green manure, soil microorganisms, tomato yield, small-scale farmers
English
1041_36
299-306