Necessary Steps for Tomato Cultivation

Written by Samiul Ahmed (Shanto)
23 October 2024 3 mins min read English
  • Description
  • Writer

Tomato is one of the most important vegetables cultivated in Bangladesh. Previously, it was grown as a winter crop, but due to its increased demand and the revolutionary advancement in agricultural technology, tomatoes are now cultivated across three seasons (Kharif-1, Kharif-2, and Rabi). Additionally, high-yield and disease-resistant varieties have been introduced.

However, despite these advancements, young tomato plants often face significant issues at the seedbed stage. One of the most common and well-known diseases is "Damping-off disease," which causes massive mortality of newly sprouted seedlings in the seedbed.

Symptoms:

  • The base of the seedling turns black or brown.
  • The base softens and decays.
  • The seedling wilts, collapses, and eventually dies.

Causes of the Disease:

This is a fungal disease, and various environmental factors can accelerate its spread, such as:

  • Excessive moisture.
  • Overcrowded planting.
  • Contaminated soil.
  • Very low temperatures.

Prevention and Treatment:

  • Soil Preparation:

    Clean the soil thoroughly before planting. Repeatedly planting the same crop on the same land should be avoided. If harmful microorganisms are present in the soil, they should be eradicated using formalin or other chemicals with the assistance of experts.

  • Quality Seeds:

    Use high-quality seeds.

  • Spacing:

    Ensure adequate spacing between seedlings.

  • Drainage:

    Prevent water from accumulating in the soil.

  • Fungicides:

    Use fungicides. As a natural fungicide, neem oil can be used to treat seeds before planting. Alternatively, seeds can be treated with Bordeaux mixture (a copper-based fungicide) before sowing in the seedbed.

  • Biological Control:

    The most modern and effective method is biological control. Trichoderma viride and Trichoderma harzianum, available in the market as white powder-like fungicides, can be mixed with seeds before planting them in the seedbed.

  • Tomato cultivation in Bangladesh

  • Damping-off disease

  • Fungal disease

  • Excessive moisture

  • Soil preparation

  • Use high-quality seeds

  • Ensure adequate spacing

  • Good drainage