Usually competition occurs for resources , in soil or solar lights, fluxes intensity and duration
It seems that spacing and population does not significantly effect maturity time. this article shows that different spacing treatments do not significantly affect days to flowering.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/242357371_Effects_of_Planting_Density_and_NPK_Fertilizer_Application_on_Yield_and_Yield_Components_of_Tomato_Lycospersicon_esculentum_Mill_in_Forest_Location
check this page and its references for further information:
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/hort/news/hortmatt/2013/12hrt13a4.htm
P.s : in my opinion more spacing means more nutrients and better conditions such as more light and higher temperature which can lead to an early maturity but the previous articles shows no significant differences.
Regards
Article Effects of Planting Density and NPK Fertilizer Application o...
In general plant to plant and row to row distance does not significantly influence early maturity.
There is no physiological reason which favours the early maturity because of distances in planting. But the competition for the nutrition and water because of spacing may have little effect, actually plant may adjust itself for light and water/ moisture. In fact MSL have significant effect on days to flower initiation and fruit set as well as fruit maturity.
In general if the wider spacing between plant to plant and row to row, theplant get more nutrition as sink and source relationship will be more active. This may help in getting bigger size fruits but not early maturity.
Plant spacing is very critical to plant density determination, which can affect plant growth and development through various competitions and energy capture and energy utilization. The denser the population, the higher the total yield but individual plant yield is reduced. Denser population will require higher input.
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