Profitability and efficiency of conduction systems and optimal tomato density for fresh consumption

• Published in: Comunicata Scientiae 2024, Vol.15, p.e4009-9
• Main Authors: Dipple, Fernanda Lourenço, Ponce, Franciely da Silva, Toledo, Claudia Aparecida de Lima, Da Silva, Rejeane Maria, Grzebieluckas, Cleci, Seabra Júnior, Santino
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cropping systems; Cultivars; Cultivation; Damage; Economic analysis; Economics; Efficiency; Fruits; Insecticides; Operating costs; Pests; Potassium; Production costs; Productivity; Profitability; Profits; Tomatoes
• ISSN: 2176-9079; 2179-9079; 2177-5133
• DOI: 10.14295/cs.v15.4009

This study evaluated the productivity and economic profitability of cultivation systems for the table market. A hybrid tomato cultivar, Fascínio was grown in 12 cultivation systems of the “half stake”, “open V”, and “low” types, with four spacings–0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5 m between plants and 1.5 m between rows. Eleven fruits were harvested at the mature stage, and the productive (total, commercial, and non-commercial productivity, percentage of losses, and types of damage) and economic (production cost, revenue, and profit) parameters were evaluated. The half-stake and low (both with 0.2 m spacing) cropping systems showed the highest total yields (179 t ha-1), differing from the open V (154.4 t ha-1) and half-stake (0.2 m spacing) systems at higher commercial productivity (158.1 t ha-1). With a production cost below 100 thousand R$ per hectare and a profitability index above 58%, the half-stake and low (0.2 m spacing) cultivation systems proved to be more productive and economically efficient than the open V system, fulfilling the requirements of tomato growers. The creeping system (0.2 m spacing) had the highest percentage of losses (22%) due to non-marketable fruits; Based on damage nature, the half-stake system tomatoes showed black backgrounds and the open and creeping systems showed tomato locules affected by pests.