Effect of integrated nutrient management on growth, yield and quality of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) var. Kashi Amrit

Abstract

An investigation on the “Effect of integrated nutrient management on growth, yield and quality of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) var. Kashi Amrit” was conducted at department of horticulture farm of Udai Pratap College, Varanasi during 2018-19 in winter season.. The study consisting of 12 treatments with and without bio-fertilizers along with recommended dose of nutrient (RDF 250 kg each of NPK ha-1) with 3 replications was laid out in RBD. The growth parameters viz., plant height (72.24, 83.24 and 98.37 cm) and number of branches (13.40, 15.00 and 16.20) was highest in combined application of 100 % RDF + Azotobacter + PSB + VAM (T11) at 30, 60 and 90 days after transplanting respectively. The yield, economics and quality characters viz., fruit weight (80.12 g), number of fruits per plant (44.60), fruit yield per plant and fruit yield ha-1(3.57 kg and 794.07 q ha-1) benefit: cost ratio (6:10), TSS (4.210brix) ascorbic acid (15.93 mg/100 g), lycopene content (6.95 mg 100 g) and shelf life (20.40 days) were maximum with the same treatment combination (T11). All the growth, yield and quality characters were lowest in the treatment T1 i.e. RDF (250 kg each of NPK ha-1). By the study it can be concluded that the Integrated approach with both inorganic and bio fertilizers is economically viable with regard to growth, yield, and quality of tomato compared to application of RDF alone.