Effects of Shade Nets on The Microclimate and Growth of Tomato

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of the shading nets with photoselective features, with an open-field control. The green-shade net with shading intensity of 40% and the blue, pearl, and yellow-shade nets with shading intensity of 75% were used as netting materials. The total radiation and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) transmittance of the shade nets were analyzed. The environment conditions such as air temperature, relative humidity and canopy temperature were measured with the aid of appropriate sensors. Tomato growing was realized in the aim to determine the effects of shade nets on the crops cultivated under the shade nets, in contrast to the open field conditions. Vegetative growing parameters, fruit quality parameters and the yield were assessed in the study. This investigation revealed that shading resulted in an evident increase in the total yield and the pearl-shade nets should be the better choice for producing a high quality tomato crop, based on PAR transmittance (between 44.8 and 52.8%).