Inductive cum targeted yield model based Integrated fertilizer prescriptions for tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) under drip fertigation on an alfisol

Abstract

Soil test crop response (STCR) correlation studies under Integrated Plant Nutrition System were conducted in the western agro-climatic zone of Tamil Nadu during 2020-2021 to devise the fertilizer prescription equations for tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) under drip fertigation on an alfisol. The equations were derived by following Ramamoorthy’s Inductive cum targeted yield model. The nutrient requirement of N, P2O5 and K2O for producing one quintal of tomato fruit was found to be 0.22, 0.11, 0.27 kg respectively. The per cent contribution of nutrients were 37.93, 46.73 and 29.53 of N, P2O5 and K2O from soil (Cs) and 47.84, 31.12 and 74.13 of N, P2O5 and K2O from fertilizers (Cf) respectively. Two organic sources were applied viz., FYM (Farm Yard Manure) and Biocompost and the per cent contribution of nutrients from FYM were 38.36, 13.22 and 52.17 of N, P2O5 and K2O and from biocompost were 43.34, 10.90 and 57.00 of N, P2O5 and K2O respectively. Fertilizer adjustment equations were formulated for STCR-NPK alone, STCR-IPNS (FYM) and STCR-IPNS (Biocompost) by applying the basic parameters such as NR, Cs, Cf, Cfym, Cbiocompost. A ready reckoner of fertilizer doses for a set of soil test values at yield targets 80 and 90 t ha-1 was computed. The findings also showed that the adoption of STCR-IPNS could save more fertilizers.