Field Assessment of Fertilization, Nursery, and Crop Management Practices among Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) in the Ilocos Provinces, Philippines

Growth and yield of many economically important vegetables like tomatoes are heavily influenced by crop management practices, particularly fertilizer application, irrigation scheme, and pest management. To attain maximum tomato yields and increase farmers’ profits, these crop production components must be optimized in local farm levels. Before optimization measures can be conducted, baseline information on prevailing practices needs to be evaluated. To assess the nutrient management and other crop production practices of tomato farmers in the Ilocos provinces, Philippines, on-farm surveys were conducted in 16 and 18 barangays planting fresh-type and processing-type tomatoes, respectively. The study involved a total of 88 tomato farmers who underwent key informant interviews regarding their seed and crop establishment practices, nutrient management, pest occurrence, and their perceived yield losses due to pests. Nitrogen and phosphorus application rates by farmers in Ilocos Sur are generally higher by 19% while potassium application rate is higher by 33% compared to those in Ilocos Norte. Farmers of both fresh-type and processing-type tomatoes apply mostly nitrogen and potassium fertilizers and limiting phosphate-containing fertilizers. Ammonium sulfate, muriate of potash, and foliar fertilizer are among the common fertilizer choices for farmers in both provinces and tomato types. Ilocos Sur farmers practice higher seeding rates (400–600 g ha-1) while Ilocos Norte farmers mostly use 250 g ha-1 seeds. Farmers also consider diseases to be the most yield-reducing biotic stress, while weeds are perceived to cause only minimal yield losses.