EFFECTS OF ORGANIC MANURES AND INORGANIC FERTILIZERS ON GROWTH, YIELD AND SHELF LIFE OF TOMATO (LYCOPERSICON ESCULENTUM MILL.)

Abstract

The present investigation entitled “Effect of Organic manure and Inorganic fertilizers on growth, yield and shelf life of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) was conducted during the kharif season 2020 to assess the effects of inorganic and organic fertilizers on growth parameters, yield attributes and shelf life of tomato variety Pusa Ruby. The experiment was laid in a rendomized block design (RBD) with 8 treatments each replicated thrice.The treatments consisted of different levels of organic fertilizers and inorganic fertilizers. The treatments used were T Control (with 1 no fertilizer), T - 100% NPK RDF (120:80:60),T - 100% CD @20t/ha, T - 100% VC @20t/ha, T - 75% NPK + 25% 2 3 4 5 CD @5t/ha, T - 50% NPK + 50% CD @10t/ha, T - 75% NPK + 25% VC @5t/ha, T - 50% NPK + 50% VC 6 7 8 @10t/ha. Among 8 treatments, treatment T (50% NPK + 50% VC) recorded maximum height (74.30 cm), maximum 8 number of branches (9.8), maximum number of flowers/cluster (7.8), minimum days to first fruiting (49.6 days), maximum number of fruits/cluster (6.4), maximum number of fruits per plant (19), maximum weight per fruit (68.86), maximum yield per plant (1.42) and maximum shelf life (11). However, treatment T - 100% VC showed 4 minimum days to 50% flowering (39.8) and maximum number of flower cluster per plant (14.8). Thus, it could be concluded that the use of combination of organic and inorganic fertilizers has potential in improving growth, fruit yield and shelf life of the tomato Pusa Ruby.