Performance Evaluation of Tomato Production in a Covered Structure Environment of Belize

Tomato Production in Covered Structure

Abstract

Tomato cultivation in Belize is a critical agricultural activity for both commercial producers and smallholder farms, contributing to the national diet and nutrition. The success of tomato production is highly dependent on environmental factors, which in Belize include extreme weather conditions such as high-intensity rainfall, extended wet seasons, reduced light intensity, variable soil nutrient availability, and elevated temperatures. These environmental stressors often compel farmers to increase the use of plant protection agents and fertilizers to maintain crop yields, potentially leading to over-application. The adoption of controlled environments, such as cover structures, presents a viable strategy to mitigate these challenges by reducing the reliance on chemical inputs while stabilizing or enhancing tomato yields. This study aims to evaluate the performance of various improved tomato varieties under controlled conditions. Specifically, it will (1) compare the growth and yield of different tomato varieties or hybrids within a cover structure and (2) recommend the variety with superior agronomic traits and organoleptic properties.