In soils with low available phosphorus, fertilizer phosphate increases fruit yield and ripening, reducing the number of green fruit at harvest, as trials with processing tomatoes in Italy show.
In the same trials, phosphorus also ensured a significant increase in TSS, improving processing quality.
Phosphorus is not needed in large quantities. Around 44.6lb/ac is all that is required during the season for field grown crops. Phosphorus is used during early growth ensuring a good start for the crop and again at flowering and fruit set.
Phosphorus at tomato growth stages | |
Establishment | Maximizes root development |
Vegetative growth | Ensures continued growth |
Flowering - fruit set | Fruit development |
Fruit ripening - maturity | Boosts tomato nutritional quality |