TOMATO GREENHOUSE PRODUCTIVITY USING INTERPLANTING SYSTEM

In rustic greenhouses, working the plant to more than two meters of height turns out to be unpractical and costly, because there is no means for the cultural work to this height. Interplanting system of tomato enables two short cycles simultaneously. This work was carried out from March to September 2010 in the Faculty of Engineering of the Queretaro State University, Mexico. The objective was to evaluate the productivity of the interplanting system with respect to the traditional system in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) ‘Rafaello’, in a greenhouse of 5600 m² using a plot of 1000 m2 with natural ventilation and no heating. Experimental design was randomly divided into plots. We studied the arrangement of plants (double line and line) and density (3 and 4.5 plants/m²) giving 4 treatments: 1) 3 plants/m² in double line; 2) 2.5 plants/m² in double line; 3) 2.5 plants/m² in single line; and 4) 3 plants/m² (control). The interplanting was transplanted once harvested the first cluster of the previous crop. The densities were: T1) 1.5 plants/m²: T2) 2.5 plants/m²; and T3) 2.5 plants/m². Both crops were decapitated at 7 clusters. The control remained at 3 plants/m² and was decapitated to 14 clusters. We measured, yield, fruit quality and productivity (cost variable). Statistical differences were found for total production between treatment 1 and 4, of 32 kg/m² and 24.8 kg/m², respectively, while the fruit quality was similar for both treatments. Cost variable was 27% more for treatment 1, but the profit was 33% higher than treatment 4. In conclusion, the interplanting system was more productive and could increase yield by 30% in tomato.