EFFECT OF DIFFERENT ORGANIC MANURES ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF TOMATO (Lycopersicon esculentum)

Abstract

The experiment was conducted at the experimental field of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University during the period from 05 th November 2019 to 10 th March, 2020 for assessing the effect of different organic manure and inorganic fertilizers on growth and yield of tomato. The experiment comprised of single factor comprising eight treatments viz. T 0 = Control, T 1 = Cowdung @ 15.0 t ha -1 , T 2 = Poultry litter @ 12.0 t ha = Vermicompost @ 5.0 t ha -1 , T 4 = N @ 150.0 kg ha -1 + P @ 50.0 kg ha + K @ 90.0 kg ha -1 + S @ 18.0 kg ha -1 + Zn @ 2.0 kg ha -1 + B @ 1.0 kg ha -1 , T 5 = Cowdung @ 7.50 t ha -1 + N @ 75.0 kg ha -1 + P @ 25.0 kg ha -1 + K @ 45.0 kg ha -1 -1 + S @ 9.0 kg ha + Zn @ 1.0 kg ha -1 + B @ 0.5 kg ha -1 , T 6 = Poultry litter @ 6.0 t ha -1 + N @ 75.0 kg ha + P @ 25.0 kg ha -1 + K @ 45.0 kg ha -1 + S @ 9.0 kg ha -1 + Zn @ 1.0 kg ha + B @ 0.5 kg ha -1 and T 7 = Vermicompost @ 2.50 t ha -1 + N @ 75.0 kg ha -1 -1 + P @ 25.0 kg ha + K @ 45.0 kg ha -1 + S @ 9.0 kg ha -1 + Zn @ 1.0 kg ha -1 + B @ 0.5 kg ha -1 . Seeds of tomato cv. ‘BARI Tomato-15’ were used in the experiment. This experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three (3) replications. The results revealed that treatment T 7 [Vermicompost @ 2.50 t ha -1 + N @ 75.0 kg ha + P @ 25.0 kg ha -1 + K @ 45.0 kg ha -1 + S @ 9.0 kg ha -1 + Zn @ 1.0 kg ha -1 -1 -1 , T 3 -1 -1 -1 + B @ 0.5 kg ha ] exhibited its superiority compare to other organic and inorganic fertilizer treatments in terms of fruit yield of tomato. Treatment T₅ out-yielded over T 7 by 7.18%, T 4 by 11.24%, T 6 by 21.51%, T 3 by 31.62%, T 1 by 43.51% and T 2 by 53.02% higher fruit yield. Treatment T 7

also showed the tallest plant at harvest (125.00 cm), the maximum number of leaves plant -1 at harvest (89.15), the highest number of branches plant at harvest (4.47), the highest number of flower clusters plant -1 (16.27), the maximum number of flower cluster -1 (5.98), the highest number of fruits plant -1 (30.66) and the maximum individual fruit weight (48.29 g) in this experiment. In case of soil properties, the highest soil organic carbon (0.85%) and the maximum soil pH (6.21) was recorded from treatment T 7 in post-harvest soil. Considering the soil nutrients, the maximum soil N content after harvest (0.11%) was noted in T 7 treatment whereas the highest available P content in soil (23.0 ppm) and the maximum potassium content in soil (0.129 meq. /100 g soil) was recorded from the treatment T 4 receiving chemical fertilizer. Vermicompost (2.50 t ha⁻ ¹) + N @ 75.0 kg ha -1 + P @ 25.0 kg ha -1 1

+ S @ 9.0 kg ha -1 + Zn @ 1.0 kg ha -1 + B @ 0.5 kg ha -1 + K @ 45.0 kg ha application seemed promising for producing a higher fruit yield of tomato and sustaining soil productivity.

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