Study of Comparative Performance of Systems of Cultivation of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) for Growth and Yield Characters

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) Cultivation

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) belongs to the family Solanaceae and is one of the most important and popular vegetables in the tropics and subtropics of the world due to its wider adaptability, high yield potential, and suitability for various uses in fresh and processed food industries (Meena and Bhahadur, 2015).

It is considered one of the most important “Protective Foods” due to its special nutritive value. In many countries, it is known as the “poor man’s orange” because of its attractive appearance and nutritional benefits. The red pigment in tomatoes (lycopene) is now recognized as the “world’s most powerful natural antioxidant”.

Tomatoes are a rich source of essential nutrients, including:

• Vitamin A: 320 I.U.
• Vitamin C: 31 mg
• Potassium: 114 mg
• Phosphorus: 36 mg
• Calcium: 20 mg
• Iron: 1.8 mg
• Protein: 1.9 mg
• Other minerals and fibers (Aykroyd, 1963)

Tomatoes are used in soups, salads, pickles, ketchup, puree, sauces, and consumed as a vegetable in various forms.

In India, tomato is cultivated in an area of 0.76 million hectares, with an annual production of 18.34 million tonnes (NHB database, 2015-2016). In Tamil Nadu, it is grown over an area of 25,3700 hectares, with an annual production of 3,28,200 tonnes during 2014-2015 (NHB database, 2015).

Despite its wide cultivation, tomato is highly sensitive to high temperatures, especially when grown in open-field conditions. Environmental stresses such as drought, high temperature, and salinity significantly impact tomato production (Kalloo and Berg, 1993).

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.)

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) is a herb widely used worldwide as a condiment and medicinal plant. Its leaves and fruits contain:

• Eleven essential oil components
• Six types of acids, minerals, and vitamins, each with numerous medicinal properties

Coriander is a tropical crop, with an optimal temperature of 20-25°C for germination and early vegetative growth. However, high temperatures during summer significantly affect its yield.

Since both tomato and coriander are highly affected by heat stress during summer, it is essential to explore low-cost alternate technologies for off-season cultivation of these crops.

Kavitha (2005) and Smith et al. (1984) reported that tomato plants grown under shade tend to produce higher fruit yields (15%) than those grown in open fields. Their study also indicated that tomato yields are higher under shade during the summer season than in open-field conditions.

With this background, the present study was undertaken to identify the most efficient cultivation system for off-season production of tropical vegetables, specifically tomato and coriander.

Field Experiments on TNAU Tomato Hybrid CO 3 and Coriander Variety CO 4

Two field experiments with TNAU tomato hybrid CO 3 and coriander variety CO 4 were conducted separately at the university orchard, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, during the summer seasons of 2013 and 2014 under different cultivation systems. Each experiment was laid out in a randomized block design (RBD) with four replications.

Tomato and coriander crops were raised under three different cultivation systems, namely:

1. Open field cultivation
2. Shade net cultivation
3. Insect-proof net house cultivation

Experiment I - Tomato Hybrid CO 3

The tomato hybrid CO 3 was planted using a paired row system with a spacing of:

• Row to row: 60 cm
• Plant to plant: 60 cm

Cultural practices were followed as per the recommended package of practices for Tamil Nadu (Crop Production Techniques of Horticultural Crops, 2013).

Five plants from each treatment in each replication were selected at random, and observations were recorded for the following parameters:

• Number of fruits per plant
• Weight of fruits per plant (kg)
• Single fruit weight (g)
• Length and girth of fruit (cm)
• Yield per plant
• Yield per hectare (t ha⁻¹)
• Number of seeds per fruit
• Weight of seeds per fruit (g)
• 100-seed weight (g)

Experiment II - Coriander Variety CO 4

The coriander variety CO 4 was sown with the following spacing:

• Row to row: 30 cm
• Plant to plant: 15 cm

Observations were recorded from ten plants in each treatment from each replication for the following parameters:

• Plant height (cm)
• Number of branches
• Single plant weight (g)
• Number of compound leaves
• Root length per plant (cm)
• Leaf weight per plant (g)
• Root weight per plant (g)

Yield and yield attributing characters of tomato hybrid The mean performance of yield and yield attributing characters of TNAU tomato hybrid CO 3 under different systems of cultivation were recorded and given in Table 1.

Table 1. Yield and yield attributing characters of TNAU tomato hybrid CO 3 under different systems of cultivation

Table 2. Growth and yield characters of coriander variety CO 4 under different systems of cultivation

Table 3. Economics of TNAU tomato hybrid CO 3 and coriander variety CO 4 under different systems of cultivation

Mean Performance of Growth and Yield Characters of Coriander Variety CO 4 Under Different Cultivation Systems

The mean performance of the growth and yield characters of coriander variety CO 4 under different systems of cultivation was recorded and presented in Table 2.

• Plant height of coriander was highest under insect-proof net house (44.7 cm), followed by shade net house (32.3 cm). The lowest plant height (26.6 cm) was recorded under open field cultivation.

  • Cheema et al. (2013) reported a significant increase in plant height in different tomato hybrids grown under a net house rather than in an open field due to controlled environmental conditions.
  • Vasu and Pugalendhi (2015b) also reported that the plant height of brinjal hybrid was highest under net house at 120 DAT (111.55 cm) compared to open field (76.72 cm).
  • In this trial, plants grown under the net house were taller compared to the open field, possibly due to the favorable microclimate provided by the net house.

• Number of branches per plant was recorded as:

  • Insect-proof net house: 6.7
  • Shade net house: 3.0
  • Open field cultivation: 1.8
  • These findings are in conformity with Chitra et al. (2016), who reported that shade net houses reduce temperature by up to 5°C, increasing relative humidity and providing optimum environmental conditions for coriander growth.

• Single plant weight:

  • Insect-proof net house: 52.1 g
  • Shade net cultivation: 27.3 g
  • Open field cultivation: 19.0 g

• Number of compound leaves per plant:

  • Insect-proof net house: 30.9
  • Shade net cultivation: 26.3
  • Open field cultivation: 20.9

• Leaf weight per plant:

  • Insect-proof net house: 35.3 g
  • Shade net house: 18.6 g
  • Open field cultivation: 9.2 g

• Root length:

  • Insect-proof net house: 16.5 cm
  • Shade net cultivation: 13.6 cm
  • Open field cultivation: 9.8 cm
  • Vasu and Pugalendhi (2015b) observed similar results in grafted brinjal, where root length under net house (189.70 cm) was higher than under open field (154.02 cm).

• Root weight per plant:

  • Insect-proof net house: 12.0 g
  • Shade net house: 9.6 g
  • Open field cultivation: 4.7 g

• Yield of coriander variety CO 4:

  • Insect-proof net house: 3.33 t ha⁻¹
  • Shade net house: 2.71 t ha⁻¹
  • Open field cultivation: 2.42 t ha⁻¹
  • Rajasekar et al. (2013) reported a higher yield of coriander under net house.
  • Chitra et al. (2016) stated that unfavorable climatic conditions and high temperatures in open fields during summer months restrict the growth and development of coriander.

Economics of Tomato Hybrid CO 3 Under Different Cultivation Systems

• The highest benefit-cost ratio (BCR) of 2.58 was recorded under insect-proof net house, followed by shade net cultivation (2.45).

• The lowest benefit-cost ratio (1.89) was observed under open field cultivation (Table 3).

• Vasu and Pugalendhi (2015a) reported that Ravaiya brinjal graft grown under a net house recorded:

  • Highest net income: Rs. 830,575/ha
  • Benefit-cost ratio: 3.83
  • Lowest net income: Rs. 135,195/ha (open field)
  • Benefit-cost ratio in the open field: 1.77

• The highest net income and benefit-cost ratio in grafted brinjal hybrids was due to higher yield and marketable yield per plant under net house conditions.

• Similar trends were observed in coriander cultivation:

  • Highest benefit-cost ratio (1.59) was recorded under insect-proof net house, followed by shade net house (1.37).
  • Lowest benefit-cost ratio (1.31) was recorded under open field conditions.

• Conclusion:

  • The highest benefit-cost ratio (2.58) was observed with tomato hybrid CO 3 under insect-proof net house.
  • It can be concluded that TNAU tomato hybrid CO 3 is a highly remunerative crop for cultivation under insect-proof net house during the summer season.