A phenological stage-based nutrient scheduling approach was developed and validated for tomato cultivation under naturally ventilated polyhouse conditions. Nutrient uptake dynamics revealed a progressive decline in nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations from seedling to ripening, whereas potassium demand increased steadily toward fruiting, with the reproductive phase accounting for the majority of total nutrient requirements. Based on tissue nutrient removal and nutrient use efficiency, an estimated dose of fertilizers framework was derived and translated into stage-wise fertilization schedules using water-soluble fertilizers. Five fertilization levels (75–175% of the estimated dose of fertilizers) were evaluated. Among these, a 125% estimated fertilzer dose consistently resulted in superior plant growth, yield attributes, and fruit yield, while maintaining desirable fruit quality traits. Lower fertilization levels enhanced certain bioactive compounds but at the expense of yield. Overall, the study demonstrates that an estimated dose of fertilizers-based fertilization at 125% provides an effective balance between productivity and quality, offering a physiologically grounded and resource-efficient nutrient management strategy for protected tomato cultivation. These findings highlight a trade-off between yield and nutraceutical quality, suggesting that fertilization strategies should be tailored according to production objectives.
Krishna et al. (Sun,) studied this question.