Building a food secured Africa

Every farmer wants to walk into his/her farm to see healthy growing plants, and not otherwise. The sight of a brown or burnt leaf on the stem of a growing plant is worrisome. At this point, there is a sense of being anxious to know the cause and counter the unwanted development. So as regards to tomato leaf burn we will be treating the theme:
WHAT MAKES TOMATO LEAF LOOK BURNT?
There are different reasons that could make a tomato leaf look burnt. Let’s look at the primary reasons shall we?:
SUNBURN:
Generally, tomato plants require six (6) to eight (8) hours of direct sunlight each day. But in a case where the tomato plant is not healthy and maybe has had problems with pests, which may have led to defoliation, the plant becomes very sensitive to sunlight. This may lead to sunburn on the leaf of the plant.
Also, young tomato seedlings are sensitive to direct sunlight during transplanting. There are some solutions that would help prevent or treat the burn in this case;
- The first is keeping the plant healthy.
- Practically prevent pests and diseases
- Defoliation process should be carried out carefully (cutting off affected leaves)
- Keep the tomato seedling plant lightly shaded for the first 3 to 4 days of transplant.
- Harvest early.
MALNUTRITION OF THE PLANT:
Potassium deficiency in the plant causes a disease called MARGINAL NECROSIS. The disease begins as a yellowing of the margins of the leaves then spreads out to the edges, this yellow color begins to turn brown then makes the leaf leathery and a burnt appearance.
The soil for planting should be prepared with balanced organic plant food before planting to ensure that the soil nutrient is intact.
IMPROPER FERTILIZATION:
Fertilizers like inorganic liquid fertilizer or organic compost when overused on healthy tomato plant before transplant may lead to high soil nitrogen content which might make the plant start looking scorched, starting from the edges of the leaves to the other parts. Later starts to look dried out. The PH of the soil should be checked before planting and nitrogen rich fertilizer should be reduced at the point of maturation. Since nitrogen in excess is the nutrient’s most responsible for leaves looking burnt.
Apply water right away after using granular fertilizers and if using soluble foliar fertilizers make sure you follow the label’s instructions for application to avoid tomato leaf burn.
MISAPPLICATION OF CHEMICALS:
Excess or misapplication of chemicals like pesticides and fungicides can lead to what we call Phytotoxicity (pesticide burn). Here the tomato leaves appear burnt and dried up at the edges or tips. Other symptoms are spots on the leaves and blotches. Most times in this case, these symptoms especially at the early stage may be mistaken for pest or disease infestation and then you are tempted to apply more chemicals beyond the recommended measurement to an already stressed plant.
The tomato plants could also be stressed due to environmental conditions like frost, pest injuries, diseases, drought, humidity and most often high temperatures. This makes them susceptible to tomato leaf burn and will burn when chemicals are applied. When used on tomato plants that are already injured or vulnerable, even the non-toxic sprays like insecticidal soaps and oils can cause pesticide burn. Another occurrence of pesticide burn is when you mix more chemicals and spray at once on the plant.
You can prevent pesticide burn or phytotoxicity by using registered and approved chemicals. Be sure to check product labels for cautions and directions on application before you spray them on the plants. And that the chemical is suitable for tomato plants in particular. One thing you should note about phytotoxicity is that the best precaution is to pluck out infected leaves and dispose properly. Then practice prevention rather than forming a habit of exposing your tomato plants to different chemicals
SOIL MOISTURE CONTENT:
Tomato plants need enough water during the growth period. The soil shouldn’t be waterlogged and it shouldn’t be dry because it can lead to leaf problems like burning..
- For a dry climate; the soil should be well watered to a depth of range 6 to 8 inches below soil surface . but in the rainy climate the soil might not need as much water as needed in the dry climate.