Tomato yield and soil chemical attributes depending on previous cover crops

Abstract

The influence of different cover crops was evaluated over the agronomic performance of tomato hybrids for industrial processing, as well as its effect over soil chemical attributes. The experimental design was completely randomized, in a split plot scheme, with four replications. Main treatments (plots) were composed of winter cover crops (oat, hairy vetch, clover and radish) and of a fallow area (spontaneous vegetation). Subplots were composed of four processing tomato hybrids (AP529, AP533, Kátia and Sicílio). We evaluated the total production (TP), marketable production (CP), average mass of marketable fruits (AMCF) and number of marketable fruits (NCF). Chemical analysis of soil was done in two stages: one week preceding implantation of cover crops and in the phase of tomato implantation. Highest TPs were obtained in treatments in which cover crops were composed by hairy vetch and radish. However, although hairy vetch has caused an increase in TP, no difference between covers was obtained in relation to CP. Sicílio hybrid presented the greatest AMCF, however, its TP was lower than expected. This fact is related to lower NCF, which was half of the observed in AP529 and AP533 hybrids. Radish cover increased phosphorus, calcium and potassium in soil and this could be one of the factors responsible for the increase of TP provided by radish. On the other hand, oat has caused inverse effect, reducing availability of Ca and K. All covers have increased organic matter in soil, the major increment being presented by oat. Based on these results we conclude that hairy vetch and radish are the most indicated plants for cover preceding tomato cultivation.