Effect of Composted Sugarcane Trash and Bagasse on the Growth and Yield of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

Abstract

Background: Organic farming proves many advantages for recycling regenerates the waste matter into wealth and can wipe out the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Sustainable agriculture can be ensured in future with the help of organic farming which includes various processes of biological origin such as compost and vermicompost. Methods: The study was conducted at Alanthurai, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. Agro-industrial waste of sugarcane trash and bagasse were collected and were used for biocomposting process using Pleurotus florida, Trichoderma asperelloides, microbial consortium and Eudrillus eugeniae. Six different treatments were incorporated in the present study. Vegetative parameters such as shoot length, root length, number of leaves, fresh weight and dry weight at different stages (30, 60 and 90 DAS), number of flowers and number of branches on 60 and 90 DAS. On 90th day yield characters like number of fruits, diameter of fruits, single fruit weight, fruit yield per plant and fruit yield per plot were analyzed. Result: A significant increase in shoot length, root length, number of leaves, fresh weight and dry weight was observed in T3 - C3 (Predecomposted sugarcane trash + Trichoderma asperelloids and Microbial consortium 5 t/h) treatment, followed by T1 - C1 (Predecomposted sugarcane trash Pleurotus florida and earthworm (Eudrilus eugeniae) 5 t/h) treatment on 30, 60 and 90 DAS. A significant increase in number of flowers and number of branches was observed in T3 treatment followed by other treatment on 60 and 90 DAS. The maximum amount in number of fruits, diameter of fruit, single fruit weight, fruit yield per plant and fruit yield per plot were noted in T3 treatment, followed by T1 treatment on 90 DAS and minimum amount were reported in control (soil). The results of the study clearly indicated that treatment T3 significantly increased the vegetative parameters and yield characters in tomato.