Nitrogen (N) is an essential crop nutrient and is a major production requirement for vegetable crops, critical for optimum yield and fruit quality. An adequate supply of N improves plant growth and health, reduces plant susceptibility to diseases, and minimizes the risk of groundwater and surface water pollution. There is limited information on the N requirements for commercial vegetable production systems in Mississippi (MS). This project aims to establish the critical N application rate for open-field fresh-market tomato production in northeast Mississippi. The study was conducted at North Mississippi Research and Extension Center, Verona MS. The evaluated treatments (0, 73, 109, 145, 218, and 290 kg/ha-N) were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replicates per treatment. For each treatment, the total required amount of nitrogen application was applied at a split rate of 50% preplant (ammonium nitrate, 33-0-0 and fertigation (Calcium nitrate, 15.5-0-0). Fertigation was applied weekly starting at 6 weeks after transplanting. Both potassium and phosphorus were the same for all treatments and applied at 100% pre-plant using 0-46-0 and 0-0-60 formulations respectively. Yield data were collected at fruit maturity and analyzed for statistical differences among treatments. Preliminary results suggest significant differences (p < 0.05) among treatments for leaf tissue N concentration. The total marketable yield and extra-large fruit categories were highest (p < 0.05) at 290 kg/ha-N compared to other treatments. The results also clearly demonstrated that the observed yield increase at a higher N rate (290 kg/ha-N) was attributed to increase in total fruit number at maturity and bigger fruit size. The observed yield for the unmarketable fruit category was highest at N application rate of ≤ 73 kg/ha. Based on the preliminary results obtained, the optimum N application rate for open-field fresh-market tomato production in northeast MS could be up to 290 kg/ha. However, more studies are currently being conducted to validate these preliminary results.
