The Institute for Vegetable Crops in Smederevska Palanka, in cooperation with our Research and Development Institute Tamiš and other partners—PSSS Smederevo, PSSS Požarevac, PSSS Mladenovac, and PSSS Kruševac—implemented the project:
“Modern Vegetable Seedling Production as a Condition for Sustainable Vegetable Production in the Republic of Serbia.”
It was determined that investments in early tomato production in greenhouses with additional heating are the most justified. By reaching the market earlier, products can achieve higher prices under conditions of reduced supply, provided that demand is not limited. Among the three methods of growing tomatoes in protected environments, the highest economic efficiency coefficient (2.42) was achieved when tomatoes ripen during the April–May period, when unit prices are significantly high. Likewise, the profitability rate is highest with this approach. According to the profitability rate, for every €100 invested in production, a profit of €58.68 can be achieved. In this case, profit is more than twice as high compared to the other two tomato cultivation variants (without heating or with heating for late autumn production).
For peppers, it was found that despite higher investments, a higher profitability rate (€41.37 profit per €100 invested) can be achieved in open-field production. The main reason is consumer habits, as larger quantities of peppers are purchased at the end of summer and the beginning of autumn. Although prices are relatively high in late spring and early summer, they are still lower than expected, primarily due to weaker demand. Therefore, it is not possible to achieve higher profits by growing peppers in protected environments during this period while successfully covering additional heating costs.
Finally, through vegetation trials, it was determined that pepper and tomato seedlings responded best to substrates composed of 50–60% compost, up to 30% vermicompost, and 10–20% zeolite. Seedlings produced in this mixture had greater height and mass compared to all others, including commercial substrates. Compost mixtures with added vermicompost also showed better results than commercial substrates for tomatoes, while slightly weaker results were observed in peppers, likely due to higher electrical conductivity, i.e., increased salt content. Peat, as a conditionally non-renewable resource, can be successfully replaced with various composts, at least up to 50%, improving the properties of untreated peat related to low levels of essential macronutrients.
It was determined that investments in early tomato production in greenhouses with additional heating are the most justified. By reaching the market earlier, products can achieve higher prices under conditions of reduced supply, provided that demand is not limited. Among the three methods of growing tomatoes in protected environments, the highest economic efficiency coefficient (2.42) was achieved when tomatoes ripen during the April–May period, when unit prices are significantly high. Likewise, the profitability rate is highest with this approach. According to the profitability rate, for every €100 invested in production, a profit of €58.68 can be achieved. In this case, profit is more than twice as high compared to the other two tomato cultivation variants (without heating or with heating for late autumn production).
For peppers, it was found that despite higher investments, a higher profitability rate (€41.37 profit per €100 invested) can be achieved in open-field production. The main reason is consumer habits, as larger quantities of peppers are purchased at the end of summer and the beginning of autumn. Although prices are relatively high in late spring and early summer, they are still lower than expected, primarily due to weaker demand. Therefore, it is not possible to achieve higher profits by growing peppers in protected environments during this period while successfully covering additional heating costs.
Finally, through vegetation trials, it was determined that pepper and tomato seedlings responded best to substrates composed of 50–60% compost, up to 30% vermicompost, and 10–20% zeolite. Seedlings produced in this mixture had greater height and mass compared to all others, including commercial substrates. Compost mixtures with added vermicompost also showed better results than commercial substrates for tomatoes, while slightly weaker results were observed in peppers, likely due to higher electrical conductivity, i.e., increased salt content. Peat, as a conditionally non-renewable resource, can be successfully replaced with various composts, at least up to 50%, improving the properties of untreated peat related to low levels of essential macronutrients.
