North India Statesman
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Kanpur, 20 August (HS). A pigment called lycopene is found in tomatoes, which is said to be the world's most important antioxidant. If farmers cultivate it scientifically, they will get more profit. The month of August is the best time for planting tomatoes. This information was given by Dr Anil Kumar Singh, horticulture scientist of the Extension Directorate of Chandrashekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, on Tuesday.
He told that tomato is a popular vegetable. Carbohydrates, vitamins, calcium, iron and mineral salts are found in abundance in tomato. A pigment called lycopene is found in its fruit, which is the world's most important antioxidant. Apart from all this, carotenoids and vitamin C are also found in abundance in tomato.
When and how to cultivate tomatoes, then it will be beneficial
Dr Anil Kumar Singh told that the most appropriate time for transplanting tomatoes is the month of August, due to which tomatoes start coming out in the beginning of winter. He told to keep the distance between plant to plant and row to row 60 x 60 cm while transplanting tomatoes. He advised to irrigate the crop after planting. If farmers cultivate tomatoes by making ridges, then irrigation water and space is utilized properly. Regarding weed control in tomato crop, he told that weeding with a spade or hoe is beneficial. Due to which there is aeration in the roots of the plants and the crop becomes good.
Dr. Singh said that coriander, pumpkin, cabbage crops can be grown as intercrops, which provide additional income. To protect the main crop from diseases and insects, plant one line of marigold all around the field and after every 10 lines of the main crop under environmental engineering. So that the female insect will leave the main crop and lay its eggs on the marigold plants. As a result, the damage to the tomato crop will be reduced. Dr. Singh said that the average yield of tomato is 300 to 350 quintals per hectare, but by adopting good production technology and improved varieties, farmers can get a yield of 800 to 1000 quintals per hectare.
