Tomato is originated in Peru of South America. It is important commercial vegetable crop of India. It is the second most important crop of world after Potato. Fruits are eaten raw or in cooked form. It is rich source of Vitamin A, C, Potassium and Minerals. It is used in soup, juice and ketch up, powder. The major tomato producing states are Bihar, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Orissa, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal and Uttarakhand.

It can be grown in varied type of soil ranging from Sandy loam to clay, black soil and red soil having proper drainage. It gives best result when grown under well drained sandy soil with high organic content. For good growth pH of soil should be 7-8.5. It can tolerate moderate Acidic and saline soil. Avoid cultivation in high acidic soils. For early crops, light soil is beneficial where for heavy yields clay loam and silt-loam soils are useful.

Pusa Rubi: Variety developed by IARI, New Delhi. Suitable for spring as well as winter season cultivation. Gives average yield of 83-104qtl/acre. It matures in 85-90 days after transplanting.

Pusa Early Dwarf: Variety developed by IARI, New Delhi. Fruits are medium dwarf, with yellow stem. Ready to harvest 75-80days after transplantation. Gives average yield of 145-150qtl/acre.

HM 102: Early maturing variety. Fruits are small to medium in size, round and juicy. It matures in 85-90 days after transplanting. Gives average yield of 104-114qtl/acre.

Hisar Lalima (Pusa Early dwarf X HS 101): Released by HAU. It gives an average yield of 60-117qtl/acre. It has long sized fruits.

S-12: Released by PAU. It is a dwarf variety. It has round fruits which is medium in size and are juicy. It gives an average yield of 104-114qtl/acre.

Sweet-72: Released in Gwalior. It has long plant which is spreading. It has round, large and juicy fruits. It gives an average yield of 125-130qtl/acre of yield.

Roma: It has dwarf plant height. The variety matures in 90-95 days. It gives an average yield of 125qtl/acre.

Pant Tamatar-3: it has large sized fruits. It gives an average yield of 125qtl/acre.

Arka Saurabh: It gives an average yield of 125qtl/acre.

Other state varieties:

HS 101: Suitable for growing in North India during winter condition. Plants are dwarf. Fruits are round and medium size and Juicy. Fruits are borne in cluster. It is resistant to Tomato Leaf Curl Virus. Gives average yield of 125-135qtl/acre.

Pant T 3: Fruits having uniform red color. Variety is suitable for processing. Gives average yield of 120qtl/acre.

Arka Vikas: Variety released by IIHR, Bangalore. The crop is ready to harvest in 120days. Gives average yield of 140-160qtl/acre.

Hisar Arun: Early variety and ready for first harvesting within 70days after transplanting. Number of fruits is more and medium to large size. It gives average yield of 100qtl/acre.

Avinash 2: Medium heighted variety. Its fruits are round with bright red color. Gives average yield of 240qtl/acre. 

For tomato plantation, it required well pulverize and levelled soil. To bring soil to fine tilth, plough land for 4-5times, then planking is done to make soil level. At time of last ploughing add well decomposed cow dung and Carbofuron@5kg or Neem cake@8kg per acre should be applied. Transplantation of tomato is done on raised bed. For that prepared raised bed of 80-90cm width. To destroy harmful soil borne pathogen, pest and organism, soil solarization is carried out. It can be done by using transparent plastic film as mulch. This sheet absorbs radiation and thus increases soil temperature and kills pathogen.

Do solarization for one month before sowing. Sow tomato seeds on raised beds of 80-90cm width and of convenient length. After sowing covered bed with mulch and irrigate bed with Rose-Can daily in morning. To protect crop from virus attack cover nursery bed with fine nylon net.

10-15days after transplanting sprayed 19:19:19 along with micronutrients@2.5 to 3gm/Litre of water. To make plants healthier and stronger and to harden seedling against transplanting sock take spray of Lihocin@1ml/ Litre water at 20days after sowing. Damping Off damages crop to great extent, to prevent crop from it avoid overcrowding of seedlings and keep soil wet. If wilting is observed, do drenching of Metalaxyl@2.5gm/ Litre water, 2-3 times till plants are ready for transplantation.

Seedling is ready for transplantation 25 to 30days after sowing with 3-4leaves. In case if seedlings age is more than 30days transplant it after de-toping. Water seedling beds 24hours before transplanting so that seedlings can be easily uprooted and be turgid at transplanting time.

To protect crop from Bacterial Wilt, Dip seedlings in 100ppm Streptocycline solution for 5 mins before transplanting.

Time of sowing
For spring season, prepared nursery in November- December whereas for winter season, sow seed in nursery in month of September-October month.

Spacing
Depending upon variety use and its growth habit, use spacing of 60x30cm or 75x60cm or 75x75cm.for dwarf variety use spacing of 75cm x 30cm and for rainy season use spacing of 120-150 x 30cm.

Sowing Depth
In nursery sow seed at depth of 0.5 cm and then covered with soil. 

Method of sowing
Transplanting of seedling in main field.

Seed Rate
Use seed rate of 100-160 gram for preparing seedling for sowing in one acre land. For hybrid varieties, use seed rate of 80-100gm/acre.

Seed Treatment
To protect crop from soil borne disease and pest, before sowing, do seed treatment with Thiram@ 3gram or Carbendazim @1gram/kg of seed. After chemical treatment, treat seed with Trichoderma@ 5 gram/kg of seed. Keep it in shade and use it for sowing.
 

Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

Nutrient Requirement (kg/acre)

In general, apply Nitrogen@9-11 kg, Phosphorus@13 kg and Potash@15-19kg in form of Urea@20-25 kg, DAP@155 kg and MOP@25-33kg/acre. Two to three week before transplantation of seedlings, apply whole dose of Phosphorus and Potash and one third of nitrogen. Apply remaining quantity of nitrogen in two equal splits 30 and 50days after transplantation.

Do frequent weeding, hoeing and earthing up and keep field weed free till 45days. If weed left uncontrolled then it will reduce crop yield up to 70-90%. Before transplantation, apply pendimethalin@1ltr/acre in main field. If weed intensity is high, take post emergence spray of Sencor@200gm/acre. Mulching is also an effective way to reduce soil temperature along with weed control.

After transplantation, provide light irrigation for two-three days. In winter, apply irrigation with interval of 12 to 15 days and in summer month, apply with interval of 6-7 days depending upon soil moisture. Flowering stage is critical for irrigation, water stress during this stage can leads to flower drop and adversely affecting fruiting and productivity. According to various research, it is found that, half inch irrigation at every fortnight causes maximum penetration of roots and thus give high yield. Also, avoid excess irrigation.

 • Pest and their control:

White fly: The nymphs and adults of white fly suck the cell sap from the leaves and weaken the plants. They secrete honey dew on which black sooty mould develops on leaves. They also transmit leaf curl diseases.

Thrips: Commonly observed pest. Mostly observed in dry weather. They suck sap from the foliage and results in curling of leaves, leaves become cup shaped or curved upward. Also causes flower drop.

 • Disease and their control:

Anthracnose: Warm temperatures, high moisture are ideal condition for spread of this disease. It is characterized by black spots that are formed on infected parts. Spots are usually circular, water-soaked and sunken with black margins. The fruits with many spots drop off prematurely resulting in heavy loss of yield.

Early Blight: Common and major disease of tomato. Initially small, brown isolated spots are observed on leaf. Later spots are seen on stem and also on fruits. Fully developed spots become irregular, dark brown color with concentric ring inside spots. In severe condition, defoliation occurred.

Wilt and Damping off: Moist and poorly drain soil causes damping off disease. It is soil borne disease. Water soaking and shriveling of stem occurs. Seedlings killed before emergence. If it appears in nursery the entire lot of seedling may get destroyed.

Powdery Mildew: Patchy, White powdery growth appears on lower side of leaves. It parasitizes the plant using it as a food source. It commonly occurs on older leaves just before or at fruit set. But it can develop at any stage of crop development. In severe infestation it causes defoliation.

Plant starts yielding by 70days after transplantation. Harvesting is done depending upon purpose like for fresh market, long distance transport etc. Mature green tomatoes, 1/4th fruits portion gives pink color are harvested for Long Distance Markets. Almost all fruits turn into pink or red color but having firm flesh are harvested for Local Markets. For processing and seed extraction purpose, fully ripe fruits with soft flesh are used.

After harvesting, grading is done. Then fruits are packed in Bamboo baskets or crates or wooden boxes. To increase self-life of tomato during long distance transport pre cooling is carried out. From ripen tomatoes several products like Puree, syrup, juice and ketch up are made after processing.