Synergistic effect of microbial and nonmicrobial biostimulants on growth, yield, and nutritional quality of organic tomato

Abstract

AbstractThe current pot experiment was conducted at the Horticulture Farm of Sher‐e‐Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh, from October 2017 to April 2018, to evaluate the effects of the three biostimulants—Trichoderma‐based biostimulants (TB), seaweed extract (SWE), and humic substance (HS)—and their combinations on the growth, yield, nutritional quality, and antioxidant properties of tomato (Lycopersicum esculentumL.). The experiment was constructed in a completely randomized design using four replications. Thirteen treatments of TB, SWE, and HS were included (single and/or in combination) in the experiment, and the impact on growth, yield, nutritional quality, and antioxidant properties were evaluated. The results showed that T8(50 g L−1Trichoderma+ 2 g L−1SWE) increased the growth attributes positively as a result of the synergistic effects that led to a significant increase in yield over all other treatments. The treatment T8also elicited an increase in total soluble solids, as well as bioactive molecules such as lycopene and ascorbic acid, thereby increasing the nutritional and functional quality of the tomato fruits. Collectively,Trichodermaand SWE improved soil fertility and promoted the growth of rhizosphere microbes, which eventually led to higher tomato yields and increases in antioxidants and minerals. Soil drenching of SWE along withTrichodermais therefore considered to be an effective technique for sustainable tomato production of superior quality and higher yield.