Influence of Boron and Gibberellic Acid on Growth and Yield of Summer Tomato

Abstract

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is a globally significant vegetable crop, valued for its nutritional and economic contributions. However, maximizing its yield and quality, particularly under challenging summer conditions, remains a critical agricultural concern. To assess the influence of boron (B) and Gibberellic Acid (GA3) on the growth, yield and quality of summer tomato (BARI Hybrid Tomato 8), a field experiment was conducted at the Department of Agriculture, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali, from May 2023 to August 2023. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications of each treatment. The unit plot size was 1.0 m × 1.0 m. There were 4 treatments T0: control (without Gibberellic acid and Boron), T1: 50 ppm GA3, T2: 100 ppm Boron and T3: combinations of T1 and T2 in the experiment comprising Boron (100 ppm) and GA3 (50 ppm). The effect of boron, gibberellic acid and their combined effect showed significant variations in growth, yield and quality of tomato. In this study between the individual application of Boron @ 100 ppm and GA3 @ 50 ppm, GA3 gave the higher plant height, leaf number, fruit weight and yield per plant than Boron. Combined effect of GA3 and Boron at treatment T3 (50 ppm GA3 + 100 ppm Boron) gives the highest plant height (104.23), branch number (18.76), no. of leaves per plant (82.5), flower clusters per plant (14.05), flower per plant (52.1), fruit per plant (17.72), fruiting percentage (34.05), fruit weight per plant (964.21g), total yield (33.06 t ha-1). From this experiment, it can be concluded that the interactive effect of 50 ppm GA3 with 100 ppm Boron treatment is suitable dose for higher yield of tomato by improving all the parameters numerically.