Growth, Yield And Quality Of Tomato Cultivated Under Various Fertilizers And Soil Moisture Levels

Abstract

This research aimed to study the growth, yield and quality of tomato grown under different fertilizers and soil moisture levels. The green house experiment was set in a Split Plot arranged in Randomized Completely Block Design. The main plot treatments were various types of fertilizer (Liquid Organic Fertilizer/LOF, inorganic fertilizer/AB Mix, LOF+AB Mix) and the sub plot treatments were different soil moisture levels (30%, 45%, 60%, 75%). Tomatoes were planted in polybags and cultivated with treatments according to the experimental design, each treatment was repeated three times. The results showed that the highest plant height was achieved on tomato treated with LOF+AB Mix at 55 dat (days after transplanting) and 62 dat. Plant height and number of leaves of tomato planted on soil with moisture level 60% at 62 dat were significantly higher than those with soil moisture level 30% and 45%, but were not significantly different from those with soil moisture level 75%. Flowering stage was not significantly affected by soil moisture level. The shortest flowering stage was occurred on tomato treated with AB mix. Plant treated with AB Mix yielded the highest number of fruits/plant. Plants fertilized with a combination of LOF+AB Mix under 60% soil moisture yielded fruits with higher content of glucose, vitamin C and Beta carotene. In conclusion, the application of inorganic fertilizer resulted in the highest yield, but a combination of inorganic and organic fertilizers yielded fruits with a better quality.