Effect of Bio-stimulants on Growth, Development and Yield of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.)

Author: Gudapati Ashoka Chakravarthy, K. Krishna Mohan, D. Saritha, T. Chandrashekhar and Godasu Pradeep Kumar

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Abstract

Biostimulants are products that reduce the need for fertilizers and increase plant growth, resistance to water and abiotic stresses. In small concentrations, these substances are efficient, favoring the good performance of the plant’s vital processes, and allowing high yields and good quality products. In addition, biostimulants applied to plants enhance nutrition efficiency, abiotic stress tolerance and/or plant quality traits, regardless of its nutrient contents. A field experiment was conducted during December 2018 to April 2019 at the Students farm, Department of Agriculture Science & Rural Development, Loyola Academy to know the effect of bio-stimulants on growth and yield of Tomato hybrid US-440. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) and the treatments comprised of T1- Folicist @ 3 ml/L, T2 – Fylloton @ 3 ml/L, T3 – Globalga @ 3 ml/L, T4 – Tata Bahar @ 2.5 ml/L, T5 – Neo-Alpha @ 2.5 ml/L, T6 – Daiwik @ 2.5 ml/L, T7 – Recommended dose of NPK, T8 – Control. Biostimulants were applied as foliar spray at pre-flowering, flowering and fruit setting stages. From the results of the experiment, it was observed that all the growth parameters i.e., plant height (71.5, 69.5 cm), number of branches (6.8 and 6.5) and number of leaves/plant (285 and 280) were significantly increased by the application of Folicist @ 3.0 ml/L and Tata Bahar @ 2.5 ml/L compared to other treatments and control. Same treatment application resulted in significant increase in terms of number of flowers/plant (71 and 68), number of fruits/plant (42 and 39) and % fruit set (77% and 75%). The highest number of fruits/plant, fruit weight (105 and 101 g), yield/plant (5.8 kg) were recorded in foliar application of Folicist @ 3 ml/L closely followed by Tata Bahar (5.6 kg) and Daiwik (5.4 kg) and the lowest values were observed in control (3.8 kg). Application of biostimulants significantly increased the Total Soluble Solids (TSS) and lycopene content of fruits.

Keywords

Biostimulants, Growth and yield, Tomato

Conclusion

From the present experimental findings, it can be concluded that application of biostimulants along with balanced application of inorganic nutrients will help in increasing growth, yield and quality of tomato and fetch remunerative price to the farmers.

References

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How to cite this article

Gudapati Ashoka Chakravarthy, K. Krishna Mohan, D. Saritha, T. Chandrashekhar and Godasu Pradeep Kumar (2023). Effect of Bio-stimulants on Growth, Development and Yield of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.). Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(2): 1086-1089.