Abstract
A pot experiment was carried out with different growbag media with varying proportions of agricultural/ industrial residues such as Cocopeat, Vermicompost, Vermiculite, Fly ash, Pressmud, Rice husk and Groundnut shell, for selecting suitable materials for matric suction irrigation for enhancing the growth of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). The results revealed that the plant height, number of main branches per plant, number of lateral branches per main branch and number of leaves per lateral branch were highest in media containing Cocopeat: Vermicompost: Pressmud in 1:1:1 ratio with Nutriseed Pack. The significantly highest fruit yield of tomato (1513 g/pot) was achieved in growbag media containing equal proportion of Cocopeat: Vermicompost: Pressmud in 1:1:1 ratio with NSP. Followed by, the higher yield of tomato (1379 g/pot) was recorded in case of Cocopeat: Vermicompost: Vermiculite (1:1:1) with Nutriseed Pack,which was at par with Cocopeat: Vermicompost: Vermiculite + Neem Seed Crush with Nutriseed Pack (1320 g/pot). The conventional pot mixture of Soil: Sand: FYM (1:1:1) with Nutriseed Packgave moderate yield of tomato (622 g/pot). Besides, the promising effect of matric suction irrigation has been brought out in the present study as an alternative means for surface irrigation.
Highlights
Vegetables play a major role in Indian agriculture
In all the three stages the plant growth parameters were highest for the media containing Cocopeat: Vermicompost: Pressmud in 1:1:1 ratio with Nutriseed Pack (T5)
The plant height of 114.5 cm was observed in the media Cocopeat: Vermicompost: Pressmud in 1:1:1 ratio with Nutriseed Pack (T5) and the lowest plant height (66.5 cm) was recorded for control (T15), which was at par growbag media
Summary
Vegetables play a major role in Indian agriculture. It provides food, nutrition and economic security and producing higher returns per unit area per time. Tomato is an annual horticultural crop with a worldwide distribution and high economic value. Growing of crops in soil in open field agriculture is now-a-days difficult. Agricultural University, Coimbatore - 641 003, Tamil Nadu, India.
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