Tab. 6: Proportion of marketable and unmarketable yield

Average fruit size of 1. and 2. class tomatoes was varying between 80-110 g / fruit (Fig. 31). The fruit size decreased at proceeded harvest period from 100-110 g / fruit to 80-85 g / fruit. The light source did not affect average fruit size, even though a slightly higher average size of 3 g was found under Hybrid lights compared to HPS lights. In contrast, when lights were mounted higher, were significantly lighter fruits measured. This difference amounted 14 g.

4.3.3 Outer quality of yield

Marketable yield was around 70% of total yield for all light treatments (Tab. 6). The percentage of 1. class fruits, 2. class fruits and too little fruits was both independent of the light source as well as of the height of the lights. However, while “HPS” and “Hybrid high” had a comparable proportion of 1. and 2. class fruits, for “Hybrid” the proportion of 1. class fruits was higher than of 2. class fruits. Blossom end rot fruits as well as unshaped fruits had a proportion of zero on total yield. The proportion of green fruits on total yield was in all light treatments very high due to the fact that tomato plants were not topped and allowed to grow “naturally” until the end of the experiment. Therefore, the amount of green fruits was high as new clusters developed until the end of the experiment, which were then harvested as green fruits. The proportion of green fruits was comparable in all light treatments.

Tab. 6: Proportion of marketable and unmarketable yield.

Treatment

HPS

Marketable yield (%) Unmarketable yield (%)

1. class > 55 mm 2. class > 45-55 mm too little weight blossom end rot not well shaped green

35 a 34 a 5 a 0 a 0 a 26 a

Hybrid high Hybrid

34 a 33 a 8 a 0 a 0 a 25 a 42 a 28 a 5 a 0 a 0 a 25 a

Letters indicate significant differences at the end of the experiment (HSD, p ≤ 0,05).