The effect of different compost applications under organic management of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) production in Turkey

In order to increase organic tomato production under open field conditions, a rotation program was carried out between 2011 and 2016 for five years on an organically managed experimental open-field of the Aegean Agricultural Research Institute (AARI), Izmir, Turkey under Mediterranean climatic conditions, within the framework of regulations of EU and Turkey. Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) was produced as preceding crop of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) on the same plots and the research was designed to study the effects of composted plant residues (C), farmyard manure (FYM), and two different certified commercial organic composts (CCC1 and CCC2) on tomato total yield and some agro-morphological properties and soil characteristics. Results showed that (1) the organic materials can be composted and used as soil conditioners. The compost could be produced as on-farm and applied in tomato production to increase farmers' profit, (2) enhancing soil physical parameters, (3) organic tomato consumption is microbiologically safe and (4) high quality can be attained. The results showed that tomato total yields in all applications reached to 90 ton ha(-1) which is declared as the mean yield in the certificate of the tomato variety (Lycopersicon esculentum L. 'SC2121') used in the experiment. Locally adapted varieties of crops and using Original Grade seed could be the key factors to achieve desired yield and quality under organic tomato cultivation.