Study of the effect of agroecological practices on tomato production

The primary objective of agronomy today is to enhance crop yields and productivity while preserving the environment. It is important to adopt sustainable farming practices that aim to reduce the extensive use of chemical fertilizers, limit their harmful effects on the environment and maintain soil fertility in the long term. In this context, we examined the impact of two agroecological practices - intercropping with leguminous plants (peas) and the use of a mycorrhizal biofertilizer - on the growth and productivity parameters of tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.), compared with tomatoes grown under chemical fertilization (conventional cultivation) and control tomatoes (no fertilization). Six treatments were applied in the field with tomato as the main crop, TCP : Tomato grown conventionally and intercropped with pea, TC: Tomato grown conventionally, TMP: Tomato grown mycorrhizae and intercropped with pea, TM: Tomato grown mycorrhizae, TOP: Control tomato intercropped with pea and TO: Control tomato.
The results showed that the application of mycorrhizal fungi-based biofertilizer to tomatoes produced values for growth parameters very close to those observed with tomato crops grown in conventional mode, and better than those of control tomatoes, in particular by 66% for number of leaves. The latter show the beneficial effect of biofertilizers on plant growth and phosphorus acquisition. Moreover, the integration of legumes in association not only contributes to improving the growth and yield of the tomato crop, but also contributes to improving soil fertility. These sustainable agroecological techniques represent an alternative solution for reducing the pressure of intensive practices on the environment, and the degradation of farmland in Tunisia. They also help preserve biodiversity and soil quality in the long term.