Towards the Optimal Mineral N Fertilization for Improving Peeled Tomato Quality Grown in Southern Italy

Nitrogen (N) fertilization has often been used in excess by farmers to improve commercial yield and the profitability of processing tomato crops. However, N fertilizers greatly affect overall quality, including technological traits, nutritional characteristics, mineral fruit composition. The aim this work was study effects increasing rates on quality when grown Southern Italy conditions. carried out at Battipaglia (Southern Italy) cropping cultivar “Messapico”, suitable for peeled tomato, evaluated ripening stage. Results showed that reduced sunburned fruits resulted total yield, average weight, as well other parameters (size, firmness, color indexes, pH, N, calcium content). On hand, negatively affected such dry matter soluble solids content, sugar index, ascorbic acid, sodium while it had no effect potassium magnesium concentration fruits. Our results show that, investigated area, 200 kg ha?1 is best compromise satisfy processors expectations, same time maintain good attributes.