Rabi vegetables: Tomato

About Tomatoes: Tomatoes are a summer crop. Temperatures between 21 and 24°C produce the optimum fruit colour and quality. Tomatoes may be grown in a variety of soil types, ranging from sandy to heavy clay. However, well-drained, organic-rich sandy or red loam soils with a pH range of 6.0-7.0 are considered excellent.

Because of its high lycopene content, great nutritional value, antioxidant qualities, and therapeutic properties, tomatoes are one of the most popular protective foods. It’s high in minerals including calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, sodium, potassium, and vitamins A and C, among others. Tomatoes are primarily used as a raw staple food, as a component in a variety of food products, and as processed products such as powder, tomato juice, paste, puree, sauce, and so on.

This horticultural crop is high in lycopene, beta carotene, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, lutein, and flavonoids like quercetin, as well as a balanced mixture of minerals and antioxidant vitamins like vitamin C and E. It is also high in lycopene, beta carotene, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, lutein, and flavonoids like carotenoids, particularly lycopene, which has the highest lycopene levels among fruits and vegetables, ascorbic acid, and phenolic compounds, are the principal antioxidants in tomatoes. Lycopene is the most prevalent carotenoids in human serum, with substantial antioxidant action in the protection of numerous types of cancer and degenerative disorders like cardiovascular disease.

Huge quantities of tomatoes are lost due to a lack of suitable processing, storage, and transportation facilities; therefore, proper processing and storage in some preserved form during surplus seasons will ensure their availability and utilisation during deficiency periods.

As a result, fresh tomatoes can be processed into a variety of value-added products such as tomato pulp, tomato puree, tomato paste, tomato flakes, canned tomatoes, tomato ketchup, tomato soup and sauce, tomato powder, and dehydrated tomato.

As a result, substituting tomato powder for fresh tomatoes, for example, might help the processing industry with everyday cuisines and preparation during the off-season. Tomato powder can be found in a variety of processed foods, including soup mixes and confectionery.

Varieties: Varieties are Azad T-3, Azad T-5, Azad T-6, Kashi Amrit, Kashi Anupam, Kashi Sharad, Kashi Visesh, Pusa Hybrid 8, Pusa Hybrid 4, Pusa Uphar and Pusa Hybrid 2.  

Procedure and chemicals required: A hectare of land requires approximately 100-200g of seeds to raise seedlings. Within 4 weeks of sowing, seedlings with 5-6 true leaves are ready to transfer. The recommended fertiliser dose per hectare for hybrid cultivars is 180 kg N, 100 kg P2O5, and 100 kg K2O. At the moment of transplantation, a half-dose of N, P, and K is administered. 30 days after transplanting, the remaining top dressed amounts. 50 days following transplantation, a third dosage of 60 kg N is given.

Pest control: Uproot and destroy afflicted plants to stop the proliferation of whiteflies. Spray Triazophos@250ml/200litre or Profenophos@200ml/200litre of water in case of severe infestation. After 15 days, repeat the spray. Thrips is a common bug that thrives in hot, dry climates. They feed on the sap from the foliage, causing the leaves to curl. To control them, use Imidacloprid 17.8SL @60ml or Fipronil @200ml/200Ltr of water.

Fruit rot is a common tomato disease brought on by changing conditions. To keep Mancozeb@400gm or Copper Oxychloride@300gm under control. In 15-day intervals, spray again.

Early Blight: Small, brown isolated patches appear on the leaf at first. Spots appear later on the stem and on the fruits. Spray Mancozeb@400gm or Tabuconazol@200ml/200Ltr if an early blight infestation is discovered. Spray again 10-15 days after the first application.

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