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Tomato Seedlings for Sale: Factors That Affect Crop Yield

Choosing the right variety from the various tomato seedlings for sale is crucial for the South African farmer, as the potential for high yield is also affected by the particular variety’s characteristics, just as much as the quality of the plugs. Read on to discover which factors affect yield potential and what role the plant characteristics play.

Plant Characteristics of the Tomato Seedlings for Sale

 

Factors affecting crop yield success can be divided into internal and external factors. The plant characteristics of the seedlings fall in the internal factors category. These characteristics are the genetic aspects that determine if the plants will have a high yield potential, whether or not early maturity will be possible, how tolerant the plants are to soil-borne pathogens and frost, and what level of lodging resistance can be expected. The firmness, juiciness, colour brightness, and shape of the fruits are also determined by genetic make-up.  

It is crucial to look for tomato seedlings for sale with high yield and quality fruit potential. The supplier should be able to help the farmer choose a variety that offers the desired characteristics. Plants bought from the supplier should be disease- and pest-free, while the supplier should also provide transplanting guidelines and technical support. With these in place, the potential for crop success increases.

 

External Factors that Affect the Crop Yield Potential of the Plants

  External refers to the environmental factors. These include climate and soil conditions, as well as organic, physical, and socio-economic factors.

 

Climate and Soil Conditions

  The humidity level, sunlight, wind speed, precipitation, temperature range and fluctuations, and gases in the atmosphere are all climate factors that play a role in the crop yield potential. It is imperative to select plugs offered for sale suited for the particular climate of the growth area.

  Soil conditions are just as important. Factors that play a role include pH, organic matter present, mineral content, air in the soil, temperature, and reactions.

 

Organic Conditions

  The factors that affect crop yield success include animals, pests, surrounding plants, and organisms that live on, attack, or compete with the tomato plants.  

Physical Conditions

 

The physical surrounds also play a role – for instance, the altitude can affect temperature while wind speed increases on open plains. If the plants are propagated on hills, then the farmer must take steps to prevent run-off after rains that can cause soil erosion and nutrient loss in the upper part of the soil. Likewise, if the plants are grown on a mountainside that often experiences strong, but dry windy conditions, the yield capacity will be lower.

 

Socio-Economic Aspects

  Farming knowledge and experience, the right variety selection, ability to intervene by means of chemical applications, and the economic capacity to create positive growth environments play a role. If the farmer does not have the money to put up greenhouse facilities where temperature, disease, and wind control can be improved, then the farmer must invest in wind breakers, other types of irrigation, and often more chemicals to control pests.

 

How to Improve Crop Yield Potential Right from the Start

  Start with the selection of the right supplier offering tomato seedlings for sale with the desired characteristics, suitable for the intended propagation method and location of growth. Reach out to Hishtil SA for a quotation and information on available varieties.

Early Start Plug for Tomatoe Seedlings for sale

 

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