Productivity and Economic Analysis of Truss-Limited Tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) Grown at a H igh Density i n Open F ield D uring the Rainy Season in C ambodia.

This study was conducted to analyze the productivity and economic feasibility of truss-limited tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) grown at a high density in Cambodia during the rainy season. During the rainy season in Cambodia, due to excessive rain and very high temperature, tomatoes cannot grow well in an open field, leading to a greatly reduced yield. High density truss-limited cultivation (HDTLC) of tomatoes can shorten the growing season and increase yields. In conventional cultivation (control), tomatoes were transplanted at a spacing of 70×40 cm and harvested up to the 4th fruit cluster. In HDTLC, tomatoes were transplanted at a spacing of 20×20 cm or 25×25 cm and harvested up to the 2nd fruit cluster. Plant heights in HDTLC were higher than those in the control at 22 days after transplanting (DAT). At 39 DAT, plant heights did not differ between 25×25 cm and control. At 60 DAT, plant height, stem diameter, leaf length, and leaf width of the HDTLC were lower than those of the control. Fruit length and width were also lower in HDTLC compared to those of the control. However, sugar content was more than 19% higher in HDTLC compared to that in the control. Yield per plant of the control was the highest, but yields per ha in HDTLCs were 99% (20×20 cm) and 38% (25×25 cm) higher, respectively, compared to that of the control. No pesticides were used for disease control in this experiment. However, to ensure yield, it is recommended to observe the disease status of plants and spray pesticides at the appropriate time. The disease index (1: disease-free; 5: all leaves were disease-infected) of late blight (Phytophthora indestans) was significantly higher for 20×20 cm (4.5) and 25×25 cm (3.6) groups compared to the control (2.0). Income with 20×20 cm (5,668 thousand KRW) and 25×25 cm (1,863 thousand KRW) were 4.9 and 1.6 times higher, respectively, compared to that with the control (1,149 thousand KRW). So, we want to spread the HDTLC technology, which transplanting of tomato seedlings at 20×20 cm intervals and harvests up to 2nd fruit cluster, to Cambodian farmers.