Effects of Shade Nets on the Microclimate and Growth of the Tomato

Abstract

This study evaluates the effects of shading nets with photoselective features, with an open-field control. A green-shade net with a shading intensity of 40% intensity and blue, pearl, and yellow-shade nets with shading intensity of 75% were used as netting materials and the total radiation and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) transmittance of the shade nets were analysed. The environmental conditions such as air temperature, relative humidity, and canopy temperature were measured with the aid of appropriate sensors. Tomatoes were grown to determine the effects of shade nets on crops cultivated under the four shade nets, and an additional treatment (control) was used in which tomatoes were grown under full sun conditions. The vegetative growth parameters, fruit quality parameters and yields were assessed and the findings showed that shading resulted in a significant increase in the total yield and pearl-shade nets are the best choice for producing a high quality tomato crop based on PAR transmittance (between 44.8% and 52.8%).