Effect of plant density on tomato yield and fruit quality growing in tuff culture

This study was conducted in three un heated plastic houses at the Jordan Valley during the 2003 season to determine the effect of plant density and planting distribution on tomato yield and fruit quality growing in an open soilless culture using tuff media. This experiment was planned according to a Split Plot design with three replicates. Planting tomato at 7.0 plants/m(2) in double row gave the highest total and marketable yields, TSS and citric acid percentages and juice pH, and the highest non-marketable yield and fruits 2 percentage and the least fruit weight, while tomato planted at 1.6 and 1.9 plants/m(2) in single row gave the least yield with the highest fruit weight and the least juice pH. Total soluble solids and citric acid in double row planting were higher than those in single ones under all plant densities. No significant differences were observed among treatments with respect to fruit firmness and non-marketable fruits percentage. Shoot dry matter % was highest when tomato was planted in single rows under all plant densities, while those planted at 1.9 plantS/m(2) in single rows gave the highest root dry matter percentage. Under all plant densities, plant height in single row planting was more than those of double ones.