Effects of Different Seedling-bad Preparations and Cover Crop Application on Yield and Post-Harvest Quality Parameters in Tomato Production

In this study, the effects of seven different tillage methods, including 2 different conventional, 2 different reduced (conservational) and 3 different direct transplanting methods on tomato yield and some post-harvest quality parameters, were compared under cover cropped and no-cover cropped conditions in industrial tomato production. Hairy vetch (Vicia villosa) was used as cover crop material. Disc coulter opener of the conventional transplanting machine was modified and prototypes of new rippled discs were designed in order to make successful transplanting into the direct transplanting areas covered by plant residues. According to the results, tomato yield were found higher in conventional tillage methods than the other seedling bad preparation methods both cover cropped and no-cover cropped conditions. In terms of tomato post-harvest quality parameters, direct transplanting methods had more fruit shell resistance and soluble dry material percentage (brix) than reduced and conventional tillage methods. In addition to this, tomato fruits in conventional tillage methods were found larger than in reduced and direct transplanting methods.