Effect of fertigation on growth, yield and quality of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum MILL. VAR. COTH2)

Drip irrigation provides an efficient method of fertilizer delivery and allows precise timing and uniform distribution of applied nutrients. Fertilizer application through drip irrigation (fertigation) can reduce fertilizer usage and minimize ground water pollution due to fertilizer leaching from excessive irrigation. Fertigation events can be scheduled as often as irrigation, up to several times per season. Optimum fertigation interval for drip-irrigated crops in general and for tomato in particular, is meager. An experiment to know the effect of fertigation on growth, yield and quality of Tomato.Var COTH 2 was carried out during the year 2011 to 2013 at the Department of Vegetable Crops, Horticultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with seven treatments and replicated four times. The treatment combination includes raised bed cultivation, drip irrigation, fertigation, plastic mulch, foliar spray of WSF, micronutrients and seedlings raised in trays. The results revealed that the treatment combination raised bed + Drip irrigation + Plastic mulch + Fertigation + Foliar spray of WSF (19:19:19 @10g/lit. 5 times) + Mixture of all micronutrients + seedling raised in tray (T1) recorded the highest plant height (105.6 cm), no. of fruits per plant (46.8), fruit weight (60.6 g), yield per plot (94.0 kg) and recorded the highest yield of 743.9 q/ ha with the BC ratio of 3.07 While the farmers practices, recorded the fruit yield of 540.8 q/ha with the BC ratio of 2.70. Therefore (T1) raised bed + drip irrigation + plastic mulch + fertigation + foliar spray of WSF (19:19:19 @ 10 g/lit. 5 times) + mixture of all micronutrients + seedling raised in pro trays can be recommended for getting increased growth, flowering and the highest yield for tomato under Rabi cultivation. Dr. R. Pandiyan | Dr. V. A. Sathiyamurthy | Dr. L. Pugalenthi | Dr. R. Nagarajan"Effect of fertigation on growth, yield and quality of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum MILL. VAR. COTH2)" Published in International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-6470, Volume-2 | Issue-4 , June 2018, URL: http://www.ijtsrd.com/papers/ijtsrd14538.pdf http://www.ijtsrd.com/other-scientific-research-area/other/14538/effect-of-fertigation-on-growth-yield-and-quality-of-tomato-lycopersicon-esculentum-mill-var-coth2/dr-r-pandiyan