Impact of Different Shading Color Nets on Growth, Yield and Fruit Quality of Tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum L.) in Cold Climatic Conditions of Balochistan

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to study the influence of various coloured shade-nets on yield and quality of Tomato (Lycopersicum
esculentum L.). Plants were sown under different coloured shade-nets, viz. red, green, black, and white along with control (without
shade net). Various weather parameters and plant development parameters were analyzed at different crop growth stages. Coloured shade net have special optical properties and also effect the microclimate. Plants grown under coloured shade-nets gave satisfactory result in terms of plant height, number of leaves, biomass, leaf area, photosynthetic rate, harvest index etc. compared to control. All the shade-nets decreased heat, light intensity and improved relative humidity. Red and white shade-nets gave higher photosynthetically active radiation (PAR, μmol/m2/s) and transmittance than other coloured nets. Plants grown under red and white shade-nets show better result in term of biological and morphological process. The harvest index was better under red shade net. Red and white shade-nets were found best in enhancing plant and weather parameters and hence they can be used in place of the commercially used green shade net for better yield of Tomato.