Effects of integrated nutrient management on agronomical attributes of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) under field conditions

Abstract

In this investigation the effects of different integrated nutrient management on agronomical attrib-utes of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L. cv. F1 Hybrid Arka Rakshak) under field conditions were investigated. Ten nutrients treatments viz., without nutrient (control) (T1), recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) (T2), agro residue vermicompost (ARV) @ 5 t ha^-1 (T3), sugarcane pressmud compost (SPC) @ 5 t ha^-1 (T4), cattle dung compost (CDC) @ 12.5 t ha^-1 (T5), sewage sludge (SS) @ 2 t ha^-1 (T6), T7 (50 % RDF + ARV @ 5 t ha^-1), T8 (50 % RDF + SPC @ 5 t ha^-1), T9 (50 % RDF + CDC @ 12.5 t ha^-1) and T10 (50% RDF + SS @ 2 t ha^-1) were used for the cultivation of L. esculentum. The results showed that different treatments showed significant (P-0.05/P-0.01) change in EC, OC, TKN, PO₄^3-, Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn of the soil. Among various treatments the most plant height, root length, dry weight, chlorophyll content, LAI, number of flowers/plant, fruits/plant, crop yield/plant, and biochemical ingredient like crude protein, dietary fiber, total carbohydrates and total sugar of L. esculentum was recorded with 50% RDF + ARV @ 5 t ha^-1. The agronomical performance of L. esculentum was recorded in the order of T7 > T10 > T9 > T8 > T3 > T6 > T5 > T4 > T2 > T1 treatments. Thus, sole ARV and 50% RDF along with ARV @ 5 t ha^-1 can be used to achieve the maximum crop yield of L. esculentum.