Effect of Timing of Fertilizer Application on Yield, Quality and Elemental Leaf Concentration of Transplanted Fresh Market Tomato
D.G. Mortley, S. Ntibashirwa

Abstract
Experiments were conducted to determine the effect of timing of NPK fertilizer applications on yield, elemental leaf concentration and fruit quality of tomatoes. NPK at 136-30-113 kg ha-1 was applied, all or half at planting and half at 2, 4, or 6 weeks after, in double bands 10 cm on each side of a row and 10 cm deep. Yield of early and total marketable, large and medium fruits declined with all NPK applied at planting and half, 4 or 6 weeks after. Applying half the NPK fertilizer at planting and half 2 weeks later produced the highest early and total marketable yield. ‘Floradade’ produced greater early, total and marketable fruit yield, but lower vine yield than did ‘Floradel’. Except for P, elemental leaf concentrations, fruit pH, titratable acidity, and percent total soluble solids (%TSS) were similar. No benefits were gained by applying NPK greater than two weeks after the first application.

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