Optimizing Nutrients Ratio for Enhancing the Tomato Productivity under Drip Fertigation

Author: Minnu John*, M. Elayarajan, R. Swarna Priya and P. Janaki

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Abstract

The injudicious use of water and nutrients for crop production has emerged as a vital issue due to low fertilizer use efficiency and high cost besides having significant environmental contamination. Hence, the optimization of nutrients ratio for improving the productivity of Tomato Hybrid CO-3 through fertigation was investigated at TNAU, Coimbatore in a Completely Randomized Design with nine treatments each replicated thrice. Fertigation with 2:1:1 NPK @ 100% RDN resulted in minimum days to 50% flowering (66.4 days). Fertigation with 1:1:1 NPK @ 100% RDN with Ca and B significantly increased the total number of flowers per plant (108), total number of fruits per plant (51), yield per plant (2kg), fruit girth (15.57 cm), fruit length (7.37 cm), fruit weight (42.23 g) and fruit volume (45.4 cm3). Fertigation with 1:1:1 NPK @ 100% RDN with Ca and B recorded maximum uptake of N, P and K and fruit yield. This study revealed that the application of recommended dose of nitrogen, ph

Keywords

Fertigation, Nutrient Ratio, Tomato, Water Soluble Fertilizer.

Conclusion

The supply of right ratio of required nutrients at right time, in right amount using the right source is the key to produce high yield in crops and this was achieved in the present study through drip fertigation. The drip fertigated treatments headed the control treatments in the study, confirming its effect on the better performance of plant. The optimum ratio of NPK @ 1:1:1 with Ca and B nutrients supplied through drip fertigation resulted in enhanced fruit set, fruit size and uptake of major nutrients at different growth stages of the tomato Hybrid CO-3. The increased yield attributes and enhanced NPK uptake increased the tomato yield to the tune of 4.54 times. Therefore, the application of calcium and boron together with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium @ 1:1:1 ratio at the right time through fertigation would be the best option for getting higher fruit yield with maximum net returns per unit area. The essentiality of calcium and boron substantiated should be further investigate

References

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How to cite this article

John, M., Elayarajan, M., Priya, R.S. and Janaki, P. (2021). Optimizing Nutrients Ratio for Enhancing the Tomato Productivity under Drip Fertigation. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 13(3a): 665-672.