An experiment was carried out at Kaha vegetable Research farm, Horticulturee Research Institute during 1996 and 1997 seasons to study the effect of nitrogen levels on yield, quality and storability of three new tomato hybrids, i.e Madeer as a processing type, Alex 63 as a fresh market type and Nema 1400 as a double purpose.
Results indicated that tomato hybrids showed variable response to nitrogen levels, Madeer hybrid gave the highest number of fruit per plant when the plants were fertilized with 200 kg/Fed. but Alex 63 gave the highest fruit weight in the level of nitrogen 150 kg.N/Fed. There was significant delaying and reduction in the amount of early yield with increasing nitrogen fertilization. Total yield were higher under treatment of Madeer and Nema1400 hybrids with 200 kg.N/Fed. while, Alex 63 hybrid responded to 150 kg.N/Fed. concerning marketable yield, the highest value was recorded in all hybrids used fertilizer with the level of 150 kg.N/Fed.
Average fruit length, diameter and flesh thickness of tomato fruits were significantly increased with increasing nitrogen fertilization but nitrogen at the rate of 100 and 150 kg.N/Fed. seemed to be optimum for getting the highest fruit firmness, T.S.S, Vit. C and lycopene contents.
Tomato fruits of all hybrids used treated with 150 kg.N/Fed. improved tomato fruit quality and storability by decreasing weight loss and decay percentages and maintained the fruit quality during storage. This improvement was much pronounced at the Madeer hybrid.