Tomato is a popularly consumed vegetable fruit and suffers from huge losses due to its high perishability. Calcium chloride (CaCl₂∙2H₂O) application has been shown to be an important method that can extend the shelf life of tomato fruits. The current study aimed to determine the effect of pre-harvest treatments of CaCl₂ on the growth, yield, quality, and shelf-life performance of tomato varieties. Four tomato varieties known as MT-1, MT-3, 303, and 105 were sprayed with the CaCl₂ solutions (0.0%, 1.0%, 1.5%, and 2.0%, w/v) after seven days of fruit initiation and were sprayed every week until the first harvest. Spraying with 2% of CaCl₂ showed an improvement in controlling physiological disorders such as blossom end rot (BER), weight loss, declined disease incidence, and disease severity. An increase in fruit quality was also observed as the treated fruit could maintain its shelf life up to 20 days at ambient conditions. At the highest doses of CaCl₂ (2%), it increased the total ascorbic acid (AA), lycopene content, total phenolic content (TPC), and antioxidant activity (DPPH) in comparison to lower doses and control tomatoes. MT-3 responded well to higher doses of CaCl₂ (2%) among the four tomato varieties and performed better in growth, yield, disease, insect infestation, quality, and shelf-life performance compared to the other varieties and CaCl₂ treatment combination.

Tomatoes are a good source of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and enzymes, which are beneficial to human health. They are one of the most commercially high-value vegetable crops that experience a huge postharvest loss after harvest. The present experiment is conducted to investigate the effect of different maturity stages (mature green, breaker, and half-ripe stage), pre- and post-harvest treatment with different concentrations (0.0%, 1.0%, 1.5%, and 2.0%, w/v) of calcium chloride (CaCl₂) on the postharvest performance, antioxidant and enzymatic activity of lowland tomato fruits, stored at ambient temperature (28 ± 2 °C and 75 ± 5% RH). Tomato fruit of mature green stage treated with 2% CaCl₂ significantly (p = 0.05) declined the ethylene production (15.53%), weight loss (16.43%), and delayed color development by slowly synthesizes the lycopene content as well as extended the shelf life. The maximum amount of total phenolic content (TPC) was demonstrated at the highest level of CaCl₂ (2%) after 20 days of storage life at ambient conditions. The concentration of CaCl₂ influenced the activity of different plant defense enzymes, and the higher doses of CaCl₂ (2%) accelerated the activity of peroxidase (POD) (13%), polyphenol oxidase (POP) (7.3%), and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) (8.5%) relative to that of the control samples. Therefore, the tomato producers and traders could extend the storage duration of tomato fruits by harvesting at the mature green stage and applying 2% CaCl₂ in both pre-and postharvest at ambient storage conditions.

Tomato is the most consumed fruit, and an important agricultural product. Losses associated with tomatoes are mainly due to their perishability. Food irradiation using gamma rays is one of the preservation methods which can be used to extend the storage duration while maintaining the sensory quality of tomatoes. This review discussed the potential of gamma irradiation on the postharvest quality aspects of tomatoes through radiation sterilisation. Gamma irradiation has also been proven suitable in delaying the rapid maturity of tomatoes, thus extending their storage life. Doses between 0.5 and 2.5 kGy have been found to maintain the colour, texture, taste, flavour, and overall sensory quality of tomatoes. Gamma irradiation has also been well adopted to control foodborne spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms. Nowadays, many countries allow food irradiation technology as a suitable and cost-effective solution for the problems caused by various types of insects and microorganisms in fresh produce and food products thereof. This review will thus provide updated and in-depth information useful for the producers, manufacturers, and policymakers alike in the adoption of gamma irradiation for tomato preservation.

Irrigation scheduling with drip irrigation is a crucial management technique for ensuring optimal soil moisture, thereby promoting plant growth, production, and economic return while enhancing water efficiency. Tomato crops, a mass consumer product grown worldwide, face significant challenges in the Sylhet region due to inefficient water management. To ascertain the best watering schedule for tomato crops based on evapotranspiration, a field experiment was carried out utilizing a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with six treatments and four replications. The six treatments include two irrigation frequencies (daily basis, F1 and every alternate day, F2) with three water doses W1, W2, W3 (i.e., 50%ETc, 75%ETc, 100%ETc). The Penman-Monteith method was used to estimate crop water requirements, and water for farming was applied according to designated schedules. Data analysis using SPSS 23 revealed that the impacts of irrigation frequency and water doses on plant growth, fruit yield, and water use efficiency were significant, except for stem diameter. The plant height, number of fruits, number of flowers, yield, and water use efficiency were increased with increasing water doses and decreased with decreasing water doses. The maximum yield was gained by increasing irrigation frequency at F1 and water dosage at W3, but the highest WUE was obtained at a lower irrigation frequency under the treatment F2, with the highest water dose at W3. The study concluded that the irrigation scheduling F1W3 was the best in balancing tomato productivity, fruit quality, and WUE in this study. The findings of this study will help local farmers make sustainable decisions about their irrigation methods.

Drip irrigation is an effective water-saving technology that reduces water and energy consumption when adequately designed and managed. This study evaluated the hydraulic performance of a drip irrigation system under field conditions at the Sylhet Agricultural University research farm. The system was tested under three operational conditions: 1/2 th of the lines open at a time, 1/3 th of the lines open at a time, and 1/6 th of the lines open at a time. The key performance indicators, including average flow rate, standard deviation, emitter discharge variation, and efficiency metrics, were analyzed using field data. The results indicated that operating one-sixth of the lines only provided the best hydraulic performance set by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers standards. The coefficient of manufacturer’s variation, emission uniformity, emitter flow variation, uniformity coefficient, distribution efficiency, and application efficiency were 0.11, 85%, 30%, 89%, 90%, and 82%, respectively. These findings highlight the potential of drip irrigation in enhancing irrigation uniformity, optimizing water use, and improving agricultural productivity, particularly for dry season vegetable farming. The study emphasizes the importance of proper system design and operation to achieve maximum efficiency and sustainability. Implementing drip irrigation can contribute to water conservation, food security, and increased farmer income by maximizing yield with available water resources.