Influence of Growing Environments on Growth, Phenology and Fruit Yield of Tomato in Semi-arid Climate of Anand District of Middle Gujarat Region, India

The investigation was carried out to study the influence of growing environment on growth, phenology and fruit yield of tomato at Agronomy farm, B. A. College of Agriculture, AAU, Anand, Gujarat (India) during kharif (2018-19) and kharif (2019-20) year. The objective was study of crop weather relationship in tomato. The treatment combinations consisting of three planting dates in main plot and three varieties in sub-plot were tested under split plot design with four replications. Three planting dates included D1-1st August, D2-15th August and D3-10th August and three varieties included V1- Arka Rakshak (Hybrid), V2- Anand Tomato-3 and V3- Gujarat Anand Tomato-5 during kharif year 2018-19 and year 2019-2020. During the year 2018-19, highest fruit yield (41.7 t ha-1) was produced under 30th August planting and it was statistically at par with 15th August planting (38.8 t ha-1) and lowest fruit yield was recorded in 1st August planting (35.6 t ha-1). In the year 2019-20, similar trends were observed with slight low fruit yield in comparison to 2018-19. Similarly, in pooled results, significantly higher fruit yield was harvested under 30th August planting (40.7 t ha-1) and it was statistically at par with 15th August planting (37.8 t ha-1). Lowest fruit yield was recorded in 1st August planting (34.6 t ha-1). A similar results pattern were found in yield attributing characters viz, plant height, fruit set percent, yield per plant and fruit weight, yield and yield attributes were found to increase with delayed planting (D3- 30th August). Higher Heliothermal Unit (HTU) accumulated under 30th August planting followed by 15th August planting and 1st August planting. Higher HTU accumulated during year 2018-19 compared to year 2019-20. Correlation study showed that weather parameters had significant associations with dry matter during different phases and fruit yield of tomato. Result revealed that maximum temperature, minimum temperature and mean temperature were in the ranges of 30°C to 33°C, 13°C to 16°C and 23°C to 25 °C, respectively during fruit set stage under growing environment started with planting on 30th August which might be responsible for higher yield of tomato as compared growing environment started earlier for tomato crop.