Growing of processing-tomato plants under water-deficiency conditions: Mulching with transparent polyethylene

Processing-tomatoes, Lycopersicon esculentum Mill., were cultivated in an area devoid of summer precipitation without irrigation. A method was tested which included soil mulching with transparent polyethylene, augmented phosphorus fertilization, plant population, planting-dates and cultivars which produced 60 tons per hectare. Under dry cultivation, fruit quality was superior, particularly as expressed in parameters of total soluble solids (TSS, 7–8° Brix), high acidity amounting to 0.5% total titrated acid, and high viscosity.Soil mulching and intensified phosphorus fertilization influenced yield of red fruit for canning, and also affected yield of TSS per hectare.