Impact of Training Techniques and Hybrid Varieties on Tomato Yield in Shade Net House Cultivation

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of training systems and hybrid selection on the yield of tomato (Solanum Lycopersicon) grown under a shade net house environment. The experiment, conducted at the Hi-Tech Horticulture Unit, Centre of Excellence for Vegetables, Karnal, utilized a Factorial Randomized Block Design with three replications. Two training systems (one-stem and two-stem) and four indeterminate hybrids (STH-39, STH-901, STH-801, and STH-701) were evaluated for their influence on key vegetative and reproductive parameters. Results revealed that the two-stem system significantly improved yield per plant (6.93 kg) and per square meter (15.36 kg) due to increased cluster formation and fruit set percentage. Conversely, the one-stem system promoted larger fruit size, with an average fruit weight of 105.50 g, indicating its suitability for markets valuing larger produce. Hybrid STH-801 exhibited superior performance, recording the highest yield per plant (6.52 kg) and yield per square meter (15.68 kg), along with the greatest number of fruits per cluster (7.75) and highest fruit set percentage (93.17%). Additionally, the STH-39 hybrid produced the largest fruits with an average diameter of 6.30 cm and volume of 157 cc. The findings underscore the importance of selecting appropriate training systems and hybrids to optimize productivity and fruit quality under protected cultivation. This research offers practical insights for growers seeking to enhance profitability through sustainable agricultural practices, particularly during off-season periods under challenging climatic conditions.