A research study, carried out by Marta Rodriguez-Albuquerque, has focused on the study of different covering materials to analyse their impact on agronomic and nutritional, sensory and antioxidant properties of tomatoes grown in greenhouses. The thesis is directed by Juana María Morillas, member of the research group "Nutrition, oxidative stress and bioavailability" of the UCAM, and Maria Josefa López, of the Department of Horticulture of the IMIDA, and has made it possible to examine the effect of five different cover materials on the agronomic and nutritional characteristics of tomatoes.
Increased production
With the study, Marta Rodriguez has shown that, with the use of one of the five treatments assessed, tomato production has increased by up to 2 kilos per plant. This entails a cost reduction for the producer, since the material used is kept for longer without degradation and production also increases.
However, for optimised production, the study recommends the use of a thermal film material (another of the five treatments analysed), which allows for a further development of all nutritional attributes. "It is important to note that the ideal temperatures are reached thanks to the fact that these treatments allow for the transmission of a high percentage of infrared radiation. This means that in the colder months of the year, when the crop is developing, the high temperature is maintained inside the greenhouse, and this has a positive impact on the crop's nutritional properties," says one of the directors of the thesis, Juana María Morillas.
The doctor and her directors point out that, from this moment, "we'll be able to implement this new knowledge in a practical sense for any companies interested in optimising production and the quality of greenhouse tomatoes cultivated under the most suitable films."
Source: murciaeconomia.com