Protection of tomato plants against cold and frost conditions by intercropping under Sohag governorate [electronic resource].

Includes references.

Two field trials were carried out through two years, i.e. 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 winter seasons at Shandaweel Agriculture Research Station, Sohag Governorate (Upper Egypt). The aim of this study to investigate intercropping three field crops (wheat, faba bean and onion) in three plant densities as a . companion crops with tomato, aiming to protect it from cold and frost, as well as, wind. A split plot design with three replications was used in both seasons. Keeping the three field crops in the main plot and plant densities (one, two and three rows) in the sub plots. The obtained results indicated that the intercropping tomato plants with the mentioned crops resulted in protective producer against the low cold temperature and wind which led to decrease percentage of injured plants and flowers as compared with the solid planting. The yield and yield components of tomato were decreased under intercropping condition. The reduction was estimated 15.5%.for fruit set percentage, 25.3% for average fruit weight, 14.5% for number of tomato fruits/plant and 15.8% for yield/fed as compared with solid planting. Intercropping tomato with wheat recorded the lowest values of injured and dead plants percentage. The reduction in yield and yield components was lesser than with onion. The results also show clearly that the high plant density (three rows) had more protective against cold temperature which led to earliness flowering and reduced the percentages of both injured and dead plants as compared with low density.

Summary in Arabic.

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