Effect of a high transmittance film cover on agronomic and microclimatic plant parameters in a greenhouse tomato crop
2025
Moreno Teruel, María de los Ángeles | Molina Aiz, Francisco Domingo | Valera Martínez, Diego Luis | López Martínez, Alejandro | Baptista, Fátima
The increase of transmittance to photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) of the greenhouse cover improves photosynthetic activity and consequently can enhance crop yields. The changes in the light reaching the crops could influence the microclimate inside the greenhouse and affect the development of the crop and some fungal diseases. The main objective of this study was to compare a standard film cover with a high transmittance experimental film cover on growth, yield, fruit quality and microclimatic plant parameters of a tomato crop (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.). The experiment trial was carried out inside a multispan greenhouse located in the Centre for Innovation and Technology Transfer “UAL-ANECOOP Foundation” in Almería (Spain). The naturally ventilated greenhouse (1800 m2) was divided transversely by a polyethylene sheet, creating two isolated sectors. The experimental cover film (90% transmittance) was installed in the West sector while the standard film (85% transmittance) was located in the East sector. On September 8, 2021, a tomato crop of cultivar ‘Ramyle’ was transplanted with a density of 1.2 plants m-2. The use of experimental film cover increased PAR radiation by 6% (not statistically significant). Leaf temperature increased by 5.4% in plants grown under the experimental film in comparison to the standard film, with statistically significant differences. The results of the tomato crop production show an increase in marketable and total yield of 0.21 kg m-2 (+4.2%) and 0.15 kg m-2 (+2.2%), respectively, in the West sector with experimental film cover. No significant differences were observed in any of the plant growth parameters (length and thickness of the stem, number of nodes and length of internodes) or fruit quality (weight, fruit diameter, firmness, soluble solids content, dry matter and colour parameters).
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