Agricen has been working with the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) at the University of Florida to evaluate the effects of our biochemical-based technology, found in plant nutrition tools such as Loveland Products’ Accomplish LM, on tomato yields. The most recent data show that adding Accomplish LM to a plant nutrition program for tomatoes significantly increases fruit yields and size.

Field studies were conducted in Fall 2010 and Spring 2011. In both studies, tomato plants were transplanted to field plots treated with a standard NPK fertilizer alone (“control”) or standard NPK plus Accomplish LM (“treated”). Accomplish LM was applied at transplant (3 quarts/acre) and then two weeks later at the same rate.

In 2010, Accomplish LM treatment was associated with a 3% increase in total seasonal yield (two harvests) compared to the control. Notably, there was a statistically significant increase in total fruit, large fruit, and extra large fruit picked from Accomplish LM-treated plots at the second harvest (improvements of 5.7%, 18% and 6.9%, respectively, for treated vs. control plots).

In 2011, Accomplish LM treatment was associated with a 25% increase in total seasonal yield compared to the control (Figure 1). Moreover, an increase in the number of extra large fruit picked from Accomplish LM-treated plots at both harvests led to a statistically significant, 39.9% overall increase in the yield of extra large fruit.

Figure 1. Accomplish LM applied at 3 quarts/acre at transplanting and 3 quarts/acre two weeks later led to a significant increase in total seasonal yield and in the yield of extra large fruit compared to control (NPK fertilizer alone)

We are pleased to see the data demonstrating the power of Accomplish technology as a tool for tomato growers who want to improve their yields more sustainably.