Tomato Fertilizer & Crop Guide: Fertilization Recommendations

Tomato Fertilizer Recommendations

In this section, you’ll find examples of tomato fertilizer schedules for various growth environments. The presented programs are suited to specified cultivation interfaces, growth conditions and target yields. The programs were generated using Haifa’s digital tools – NutriNet™MultiMatch™ and FoliMatch™. You may use these free tools to adjust Nutrigation™, controlled release nutrition, and foliar feeding programs to your specific growth conditions. 

Note: The hereunder should be regarded as a general guide only. The exact fertilization program should be determined according to the specific crop needs, soil type, water analysis, cultivar, and most important - the grower’s experience.     

 

Nutrigation™

Nutrigation™ (fertigation) delivers pure plant nutrients through the irrigation system, supplying them precisely to the zone of most intensive root activity. A well-balanced Nutrigation™ program provides plants with their exact needs, as they change along the season.

Quantitative Nutrigation™, which is the method of choice in soils with medium to heavy texture, delivers a predetermined amount of nutrients regardless of the irrigation volume. 

Proportional Nutrigation™ maintains a consistent nutrient concentration in the irrigation water, tailored to the crop's specific needs at each growth stage. This method is ideal for light soils, soilless media, and hydroponics.

Learn more about the benefits of Nutrigation™

The suggested tomato Nutrigation™ schedules were generated using Haifa’s NutriNet™ -  a powerful tool that helps growers to create and Nutrigation™ (fertigation) programs, considering the actual growth conditions. A carbon Footprint Calculator embedded in the system compares the suggested Nutrigation programs with conventional fertilization practices, helping you make environmentally responsible decisions.

 

Nutrigation™ programs for tomato, based on the NutriNet™ system recommendations

A.  Quantitative Nutrigation™ programs in medium-heavy soils, generated by NutriNet™ 

  1. Example of fertilization program in Israel (expected yield: 150 ton/ha)

Recommended nutrient rates  at each growth stage (kg/ha)

StageDays (estimation)

Macronutrients (kg/ha)

Secondary nutrients (kg/ha)

Micronutrients (g/ha)

N total

P2O5

K2O

CaO

MgO

SO4

Fe

Mn

Zn

Cu

Mo

B

Establishment

14

21

21

21

0

0

0

200

100

33

25

16

50

flowering

10

25

15

40

9

3

12

200

100

33

25

16

50

flowering and ripening

10

35

21

56

15

6

18

200

100

33

25

16

50

beginning of harvest

10

45

26.5

71.5

24

11

21

200

100

33

25

16

50

Harvest

50

250

147

397

153

75

150

1500

750

255

187

124

400

Harvest end

50

300

176

476

160

80

150

1500

750

255

187

124

400

Total

144

676

406

1061

361

175

351

3800

1900

634

474

315

1000

Recommended fertilizers amounts at each growth stage (kg/ha)

 

Establishment

flowering

flowering and ripening

beginning of harvest

Harvest

Harvest end

Total

Multi-K™ GG 

45 kg

87 kg

121 kg

155 kg

859kg

1030kg

2.3 ton

Haifa MAP™

34.43 kg

24.59 kg

34.43 kg

43.44 kg

241kg

288.50 kg

666 kg

Ammonium Sulphate

51 kg

13 kg

-

-

-

-

64 kg

Haifa BitterMag™

-

-

-

69 kg

469 kg

500 kg

1 ton

Haifa Mag™

 

19.35 kg

41.85 kg

-

-

-

61 kg

Haifa Cal™ GG

-

36 kg

65 kg

109 kg

678 kg

725 kg

1.6 ton

Haifa Micro™ Combi

2.8 kg

2.8 kg

2.8 kg

2,8 kg

20.8 kg

20.8 kg

52.58 kg

Borax

434 grams

440 grams

440 grams

440 grams

3.5 kg

3.5 kg

8.65 kg

To view the full program in Nutrinet™ click here.  For the full program in PDF format click here.

 

2. Examples of quantitative Nutrigation™ programs in various regions, generated by NutriNet™  

  • Recommendations for open field tomatoes in Brazil
  • Recommendations for soil greenhouse tomatoes in Mexico
  • Recommendations for open field tomatoes in North Carolina, USA
  • Recommendations for soil greenhouse tomatoes in Shaanxi, China

 

B. Examples of proportional Nutrigation™ in light soil and soilless cultivation, generated by NutriNet™

  1. Example of fertilization program in South Africa (expected yield: 200 ton/ha) 

Recommended nutrient concentrations 

StageDaysMacronutrients (ppm)Secondary nutrients (ppm)Micronutrients (ppm)EC (dS/m)

N total

N-NH4

N-NO3

N-NH2

P2O5

K2O

CaO

MgO

SO4

Fe

Mn

Zn

Cu

Mo

B

Summer

240

163

17

146

0

98

286

170

40

167

1.5

0.75

0.25

0.19

0.13

0.5

1.54

Recommended fertilizer amounts at each growth stage (for 1000 liter stock-solution tanks)

 

Tank A

Tank B

Injection rate (l/m3)

4.7 

3

Multi-K™ GG 

94 kg

 

Ammonium Sulfate

10.5 kg

 

Haifa MKP™

40 kg

 

Haifa BitterMag™ 

54 kg

 

Borax

0.9 kg

 

Haifa Cal™ GG

 

193 kg

Haifa Micro™ Combi

 

7 kg

To view the full program in NutriNet™ click here.  For the full program in PDF click here.

 

2. Examples of proportional Nutrigation™ programs in various regions, generated by NutriNet™

 

  • Recommendations for soilless greenhouse tomatoes in Mexico
  • Recommendations for soilless greenhouse tomatoes in France
  • Recommendations for soilless greenhouse tomatoes in Israel

Get professional tips for preparation of nutrient solutions in a two-tank system

 

 

 

 

Controlled Release Fertilizers - Multicote™ Agri 

Single, pre-planting application of Multicote™ Agri Controlled Release Fertilizers feed crops continuously throughout the growth season – for optimal growth and yield production.

Based on Haifa’s polymer coating technology, Multicote™ Agri release nutrients to the soil in a gradual manner, according to plant’s requirements. This prevents the leaching of nutrients, thus improving nutrient use efficiency and allowing for reduced application rates.

The recommendations hereunder were generated by the MultiMatch™ tool, that also estimates the environmental footprint of the suggested fertilization program and compares it to conventional practice. 

Growth environment

Soil type

Expected yield (ton/ha)

Recommended formula

Application rate (kg/ha)

kg/ha

N

P2O5

K2O

Greenhouse 

 

Medium-sandy

180

Multicote™  Agri 6M 
13-4-30 (75-25-50% coated)*

1520

205

76

466

Silty-clay

180

Multicote™  Agri 6M 
12-4-28  (50-0-50% coated)*

1630

205

76

465

Open field (processing tomatoes)

Medium-sandy

130

Multicote™  Agri 4M 
16-4-25 (75-25-50% coated)*

1540

260

65

390

Silty-clay

130

Multicote™  Agri 6M 
15-3-23 (50-0-50% coated)*

1680

260

65

399

*Additional application of secondary and micronutrients is required. 

For complete recommendations, contact your local Haifa representative

 

Complementary Foliar nutrition

Foliar nutrition provides fast, on-the-spot nutrition to ensure high, top-quality yields. It serves as an effective supplementary feeding to complete soil fertilization and for prompt correction of nutrient deficiencies. Foliar application of nutrients at specific stages of crop development boosts yields and improves quality.

Get tips for successful foliar nutrition

 

Growth stage

Product

concentration (g/l)

Spray  volume (l/ha)

Max. application rate
(kg/ha)

establishment

Poly Feed™ Foliar 21-21-21+ME 
Vegetative Booster

10

200

2

flowering and fruit set

Poly-Feed™ Foliar 21-21-21+ME 
Vegetative Booster

10

300

3

Haifa Mag™  Magnesium Nitrate

5

300

1.5

fruit development

Poly-Feed™ GG  11-8-34+2+ME

15

300

4.5

Haifa Mag™ Magnesium Nitrate

5

300

1.5

fruit ripening till end of growth cycle

Haifa Bonus™ 13-2-44

15

300

4.5

 

HaifaStim™ nutritional supplements

HaifaStim™ is a range of specialty plant biostimulants – nutritional supplements carefully formulated to reinforce the plant and to improve its growth environment. HaifaStim™ products support optimal growth, alleviate stresses, boost yields, and maximize quality.

Recommended HaifaStim™ treatments for tomatoes

Stage

Product

Action / benefit

Application rates

Nutrigation™

Foliar

From 1st leaf, during the vegetative stage until initial flowering and color break

HaifaStim™ Booster

Boosts growth processes and alleviates abiotic stresses

5-10 kg/ha per irrigation. 
In greenhouses:  3-6 kg/1000 l stock solution

 

 

100-200 g/hl, apply every 10-15 days.

From fruit setting until harvest

HaifaStim™ Calmaster

Prevent BER, Improve fruit quality and extend shelf life

2-3 kg/ha in the nutrient solution, every 15 days

2kg/ha or 200gr/100lt spray solution, apply every 7-15 days

Additional HaifaStim™ products