Field Tomato
by Ruth V. Hazzard, John C. Howell, Robert L. Wick and A. Richard Bonanno
Soil and Nutrient Management and Cultural Practices
Cultural practices are of value in management of nutrients, weeds,
diseases, and/or insects. The goal of a sound fertility program is to
supply adequate nutrients with optimum timing for maximum economical crop
yield, while avoiding excesses that can degrade water quality or adversely
affect crop or soil quality.
- Crop is planted in a field with well drained soil not prone to saturation,
and with
good air circulation to promote rapid drying of foliage. 10 pts - One of the following crop rotation systems is practiced:
- Field has not been planted to Tomatoesfor three previous years; 20 pts
- Field has not been planted to Tomatoesfor two previous years; 15 pts
- Field has not been planted to Tomatoesin the previous year. 10 pts
- Fields have been evaluated with an appropriate soil test for nutrient
status and pH
for the current year. 10 pts - Fertilizer is applied in accordance with current soil test results and expected uptake of nutrients and expected crop yield, giving credit for nitrogen supplied by organic matter, compost, manure and cover crops. Expected nutrient uptake is determined from the New England Vegetable Management Guide. 15 pts
- Organic matter status has been tested within three years. 10 pts
- If compost or manure is applied, its nitrogen contribution is calculated, and fertilizer application adjusted accordingly. *5 pts
- To minimize nutrient leaching, one of the following is done:
- Nitrogen fertilizer is applied by split application. One application
of
50 - 80 lb./acre is made just before planting, and one or more applications
are made as sidedress (or through trickle irrigation). 10 pts - Some fertilizer is applied in a broad band in the bed and covered
with
plastic, at planting. This increases nitrogen availability to the plant and
reduces risk of leaching. 5 pts
- Nitrogen fertilizer is applied by split application. One application
of
- A nitrate test is taken before side-dressing to determine the level
of nitrate-N
available, and the amount of side-dressed N is adjusted accordingly. 5 pts - If nitrogen is applied as a side-dress, it is a nitrate form of N (e.g. calcium nitrate) to reduce likelihood of calcium deficiency and blossom end rot. *5 pts
- Irrigation is provided during periods of inadequate rainfall to minimize
plant stress
and related problems. 10 pts - Trickle irrigation system is used to minimize leaf wetness periods. 5 pts
- If trickle irrigation is used and side-dressing is needed, N is fed
through a trickle
irrigation system under plastic mulch in several applications (preferably 5 or 6 equal biweekly treatments) over the course of the season. *5 pts - Crop residue is turned under (plowed or disked deeply ) shortly after harvest. 5 pts
- This year's crop was preceded by a winter cover crop. 10 pts
- If the cover crop was a legume or legume/grass mix, its nitrogen contribution
is
calculated and fertilizer for this year's crop is adjusted appropriately. *5 pts - A trial plot is maintained to test one of the following: organic sources
of nutrients
(e.g., compost, legume cover crops, or soil organic matter), reduced rates of
fertilizer, or use of the pre-sidedress nitrate test (PSNT) to determine rates of
sidedressed N. The methods and results are recorded. Bonus: 10 pts
Category Total 130 pts
Adjusted Total ______ pts
Pesticide Application and Records
Only pesticides approved and registered in the state are used. Records
of pesticide applications including date, field, targeted pest, pesticide
name and EPA number, formulation, rate and number of acres treated are maintained.
Pesticide drift is minimized. Re-entry and pre-harvest intervals are adhered
to.
- Pesticide application equipment is calibrated at the start of the
season and the
procedure is recorded. 10 pts - Calibration is checked at least once during the season and equipment is recalibrated as needed. 5 pts
- Water-sensitive spray cards have been used to test the coverage of leaf surfaces in this crop within the past five years, using current pesticide application equipment. 10 pts
- A boom sprayer (not an airblast sprayer) is used for foliar applications of pesticides, to reduce spread of bacterial disease. 15 pts
- If staked or trellis Tomatoesare grown, a boom and drop nozzle system
is used for
foliar applications of pesticides, to improve coverage. *10 pts - Records of planting and harvest dates and cultivars used are maintained and organized. 5 pts
Category Total 55 pts
Adjusted Total ______ pts
Insect Management
Insect pests include green peach and potato aphids, flea beetles,
Colorado potato beetle, tomato fruitworm, tobacco or tomato hornworm, spider
mites, and stink bug.
- Aphids are monitored weekly by direct observation of two fully expanded
leaves
per plant on at least 25 plants per field 5 pts - Insecticides are applied for aphid control only if aphid densities
exceed 6 aphids
per leaf. 10 pts - From transplant to fruit set, Colorado potato beetle and flea beetle
are monitored
weekly on at least 25 plants per field. Defoliation estimates and percentage of clipped stems are recorded. 5 pts - From transplant to fruit set, Colorado potato beetle and flea beetle
controls are
applied according to state-specified thresholds. 5 pts - From fruit set through harvest, foliar pests (hornworms, spider mites,
stink bug,
tomato fruitworm, CPB and other occasional pests) are monitored through weekly
scouting of foliage. If pests are present, numbers, percent infestation and percent
defoliation are recorded. 5 pts - From fruit set through harvest, fruit quality is monitored by examining
2-4 fruits per
plants on at least 25 plants per field. Insect damage and physiological disorders
are recorded. 5 pts - From fruit set through harvest, insecticides for foliar or fruit pests
are applied only
if pest numbers, foliage or fruit injury, or trap captures exceed state-specified
thresholds. 10 pts - If tomato fruitworm (corn earworm) is historically a problem, flights
are monitored
on-farm with pheromone traps, according to state IPM guidelines. *5 pts - If caterpillar control is needed (hornworm or fruitworm), microbial
insecticides are
used for control. *5 pts
Category Total 55 pts
Adjusted Total ______ pts
Disease Management
Major diseases include early and late blight, bacterial canker, Septoria
leaf spot, Anthracnose, Verticilium, Fusarium, and Sclerotinia white mold.
Disease management also includes crop rotation, soil drainage, and nutrient
management (see above).
Prior to field planting:
- Tomato seed has been (MAXIMUM of 15 points):
- tested and found to be disease-free, 5 pts AND/OR
- treated with sodium hypochlorite, 10 pts AND/OR
- hot water-treated seed is used. 15 pts
- Plants with resistance to soil-borne diseases (e.g., Verticilium,
Fusarium) or foliar
diseases (e.g., early or late blight) are grown. 10 pts - Transplants are grown in-state. 5 pts
- If transplants are grown on-farm, preventative practices are followed;
(maximum of 15 pts):- The growing medium does not include field soil. 5 pts
- Transplants are grown in a separate greenhouse from ornamental crops. 5 pts
- Sanitation practices in the greenhouse include cleaning of benches, trays, hose nozzles, etc. with a disinfectant and avoiding contamination of the transplant medium and hose nozzles. 5 pts
- Greenhouse is kept weed-free. 5 pts
- Humidity in the greenhouse is reduced through proper timing of
watering,
ventilation and air circulation. 5 pt
In the field:
- Plants are grown in stake and weave culture, which can help reduce early blight. 5 pts
- If early and late plantings are made, they are grown in separate
(isolated) fields to
reduce movement of foliar disease into late plantings. *5 pts - High tunnels are employed for early season crop to reduce early blight
and
other foliar diseases. No chemicals are used for disease control. Bonus: 10 pts - Fields are monitored weekly for disease. Scouting results are recorded,
including
disease symptoms and percent infected plants and foliage. 15 pts - If disease problems occur, diseases are accurately identified (using
the help of
consultants or a diagnostic laboratory if needed). *10 pts - From transplant to four weeks after transplant, copper materials are
used only if
farm has a history of bacterial disease of tomato. 5 pts - More than four weeks after transplanting, bactericides are applied only if symptoms of bacterial diseases are present on farm. 5 pts
- Initial fungicides for control of early blight and Septoria leaf spot are triggered by date (first week of July) or disease forecasting (TOM-CAST, accumulation of 35 DSV since planting), whichever comes first. 10 pts
- After July 1, scheduling of fungicides for control of early blight
and Septoria leaf
spot is based upon one of the following:- Disease forecasting (cumulative TOM-CAST DSV = 15, since previous
spray), based upon local or regional weather information. 15 pts OR - If weather conditions favor disease development (i.e. long leaf
wetness
periods and warm temperatures). Weather information is recorded. 10 pts
- Disease forecasting (cumulative TOM-CAST DSV = 15, since previous
- Fungicides and bactericide are applied only when the application will be followed by a drying period of at least two hours. 5 pts
- Precautions are taken to avoid spreading pathogens during pruning
and tying of
plants, including working the crop only when plants are dry. 5 pts - If late blight occurs locally, protectant or systemic fungicides are used to prevent the outbreak or spread of this disease. *10 pts
Category Total 135 pts
Adjusted Total ______ pts
Weed Management
- This year's tomato fields were scouted for weeds at the end of the previous season. Weeds present were recorded and the information was used in the current crop's weed management program. 10 pts
- One of the following weed management methods is used:
- Weeds are controlled by cultivation or other non-chemical means,
with no
herbicide applied; OR - Herbicide rates are reduced through banding of herbicides and cultivation; OR
- Tomatoesare transplanted on plastic mulch and herbicides are
only used
between the mulch, so that less than 50% of the soil area is treated; OR - Post-emergence herbicides are used as an alternative to pre-emergence
herbicides, in response to weeds observed and recorded in early-season
survey, on crops grown either on bare ground or plastic. 20 pts
- Weeds are controlled by cultivation or other non-chemical means,
with no
- Weeds in fields, alleys and roadways are prevented from going to seed. 10 pts
- This year's fields are scouted in midseason for weeds. Location and
species of
uncontrolled weeds are mapped and the information is used in planning for next year. 10 pts - Outbreaks of new or problem weed species are controlled, using chemical
or
non-chemical means, to prevent spreading or seed production. 10 pts - A trial plot to test a different weed management technique is maintained.
The methods and results are recorded. Bonus: 10 pts
Category Total 60 pts
Adjusted Total ______ pts
Education
- Manager possesses a copy of the current New England Vegetable Management Guide. 5 pts
- Manager attends one or more
state, regional or national Extension vegetable
workshops during the current year. 5 pts - Manager subscribes to the UMass Extension Vegetable Notes & IPM Message. 5 pts
Category Total 15 pts
Adjusted Total ______ pts
Grand Total 450 pts
Adjusted Grand Total ______ pts
Percentage of adjusted total %
