Effects of different application methods of chitosan on growth, yield and quality of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.)

Abstract

A pot experiment was conducted to study the effect of different application methods of chitosan on growth, yield and quality of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). The experiment was laid out in completely randomized design (CRD) with four replications and twelve treatments combinations viz., T₀= Control, T₁= Soil application of chitosan (SAC) @80 ppm, T₂= SAC @120 ppm, T₃= Foliar spraying of chitosan (FSC) @60 ppm, T₄= FSC @80 ppm, T₅= FSC @100 ppm, T₆= Combination of T₁  and T₃, T₇= Combination of T₁ and T₄, T₈= Combination of T₁ and T₅, T₉= Combination of T₂ and T₃, T₁₀= Combination of T₂   and T₄, and T₁₁= Combination of T₂ and T₅. The study results revealed that there were significant variations among the treatments on number of leaves, numbers of flower cluster, flowering duration, fruit length and yield of tomato (L. esculentum). The highest yield of tomato (L. esculentum) was obtained from the treatment T₆, while the lowest was obtained from control treatment. Vitamin-C and lycopene  content of tomato (L. esculentum) fruits varied from 2.19-4.09 and 2.38-3.58 mg 100g^-1 sample, respectively. Among the major minerals, the highest amounts of Ca, Mg, Na, K, S and P were obtained from T₇ (0.69%), T₃ (0.58%), T₈ (0.38%), T₁ (0.62%), T₄ (0.15%) and T₆ (0.33%) treatments, respectively. Study results inferred that the treatment T₄ was more effective concerning most of the growth and biochemical parameters of tomato (L. esculentum). Finally, the study concluded that foliar application of chitosan alone or in combination with soil has significant effect on growth, yield and biochemical characters of tomato (L. esculentum).