CHARTER SEEDS TOMATO PRODUCTION GUIDE Divara Phiri (Agronomist) Fertiliser Recommendations A soil test is the most accurate guide to fertiliser requirements Soil test results help to determine the nutrients needed and the rate of application Basic application 1000 1500 kg/ha of ZFC vegetable blend(9:24:20), Omnia PV blend or Windmill Super C(6:24:20) Other basal fertiliser to be applied Sulphate of potash (SOP),Gypsum,Dolomitic Lime iser Placement {tain a high nutrient intensity in each g the life of Fertiliser is carefully positioned in the soil profile to m: root zone, as the zone of maximum nutrient uptake changes with root growth durin the crop The most important factor in nutrient uptake is the rate of root growth and proliferation of roots in the soil The roots must continually grow in the new soll because the envelope of soil solution surrounding the root tip is quickly exhausted of nutrients and root must move on Placement methods for basal compounds (the word basal implies down) Apply below the root zone where it becomes available to the plant for root establishment Apply fertiliser in 3 different depths, layers or horizons Plant spacing In row 30 cm Inter row 1.5 m Plant population 18 - 20 000 plants per ha Top Dressing Top dress with Ammonium nitrate 8g per plant (220g per 10 m row using fertigation method) at day 7,14,28 after transplanting Top dressing with Potassium nitrate 8g per plant (220g per 10 m row using fertigation method) at day 35 after every 10 days to the duration of the cropApply calcium nitrate at fruiting stage as a foliar spray at 1% solution (10g per litre of water or 150g per standard 15 litres knapsack) after every fortinight Spray calcium nitrate early in the morning or late afternoon to avoid fertiliser burn (Full cover spray is required (FCS) Spray karate(Lambda) for cutworms after planting Spray on wet soils to achieve best results Whiteflies use Confidor, Superior liquid detergent soap,Actara,Levo,Pilarmos,Thunder, Chess Tuta absoluta use Ampligo,Belt,Trigard,Levo,Suntap (Cartap hydrochloride) Steward, Lanate Leaf miner (Lyriomyza) use Trigard, DDVP,Dimethoate Redspidermites use Amitraz,Abamectin,Diazinon, Dynamic, Tetradifon(Acaricides) Heliothis Larvae use Karate, DDVP,Fenveralate(Synthetic pyrethroids) Cutworms use karate(Lambda),Fenveralate,Chlorpyrifos Nematodes use Oxamyl,VelumSolvigo DISEASES Early and Late blight use copper oxychloride,Dithane m45 as preventative Use Ridomil gold, Sravo,Amistar Top, Kobe, Ortiva,Infinito,Folio Gold,Folicur as curative ‘Chemicals are applied on prophylactic basis,you don’t wait the pest or disease to appeat the crop Soil borne disease use Thiram ‘A major feature of the insect and disease control recommendations Is the successful strategy for managing the development of resistance, to prolong the effectiveness of chemicals Insecticides and Fungicides are rotated to prevent the build up of resistance and to provide a better spectrum ‘Acombination of preventative and curative strategies is used for disease and Insect control Arrange of products with different modes of action are used. Insect and disease control does not depend on a single type of product Always use wetter or sticker when spraying Spraying intervals:winter once a week or every 2 weeks,summer once a Week or twice a week