Physalis ixocarpa Brot. (tomatillo or Husk tomato) is one of the five major vegetables cultivated in Mexico, but its yield in the field is low. However, greenhouse crops and the enhancement in plant density can promote an increase in yield per area.
The aim of a recent research was to evaluate: yield, water consumption and water use efficiency of variety husk tomato ‘Diamante’.
High planting density caused smaller stems diameter and higher yield per m-2 and in water use efficiency. Plant length and yield per plant and per unit of area were higher in the greenhouse, as well as the longest plant length and largest stem diameter were in the spring-summer crop cycle
The experiment was conducted under field and greenhouse conditions, during the two crop cycles (autumn-winter and spring-summer), with different planting densities (1.5, 2 and 3 plants m-2), in complete random blocks and three replications. The yield was influenced by the planting density and environments. In both environments, the planting density, with 3 plants m-2 increased yield 32 %, and 25% in water use efficiency (WUE).
In greenhouse increased 32% yield m-2 and the WUE it was 18.1 kg m-3 while in the field was 16.4 kg m-3. Crop cycle spring-summer produced differences of 27% in plant length and 15% in stem diameter, probably due to the temperature that was 4 ºC higher with respect to autumn-winter.
Find the complete research here.
López-Ramos, Bernabé & Ortiz-Hernández, Yolanda & Morales, Isidro & Aquino-Bolaños, Teodulfo. (2021). Plant density on yield of Husk tomato (Physalis ixocarpa Brot.) in field and greenhouse. Ciência Rural. 51. 10.1590/0103-8478cr20200992.