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Effect of Seedling Age and Pruning on Growth, Yield and Quality of Tomato

M. M. Huq
Department of Horticulture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh

K. M. Nasiruddin
Department of Biotechnology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh

M. R. Karim
Department of Horticulture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh

M. A. K. Azad
Department of Horticulture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

An experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of seedling ages and pruning on the growth and yield and quality of tomato. The experiment was consisted of five different ages of seedlings viz., 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 days old seedlings and three levels of pruning viz., no pruning, single stem and double stem pruning. Age of seedling showed significant variation in all the parameters studied. The highest total yield (120.6 t/ha) was obtained from 35 days old seedlings. Pruning also influenced vegetative growth as well as yield of tomato. Pruned plants with double stem produced maximum yield of tomato (138.3 t/ha). Yield of tomato ranged between 80.51 t/ha to 149 t/ha among the treatment combinations. being the highest (149 t/ha) at 35 days old seedlings with double stem pruning.

Keywords: Seedling age, Pruning, Growth. Yield. Quality, Tomato

Location: Horticulture Farm, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh

Start Date: 00-10-2001

End Date: 00-04-2002

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Tomato

Objectives:

To find out the optimum age of seedlings and to perceive a suitable pruning practice to maximize tomato production and its yield in Bangladesh.

Methodology:

The experiment was carried out at the Horticulture Farm, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during the period from October 2001 to April 2002. The experiment consisted of five different ages of seedlings viz., 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 days and three pruning viz., no pruning, single stem pruning and double stem pruning. Marglove variety of tomato was used in this experiment. The two factor experiment was laid out in Raudonized Complete Block Design with three replications. The blocks and plots were spaced at 1.0 and 0.7 m, respectively. The crop was fertilized with @ 10 tons cowdung, 550 kg urea, 450 kg TSP and 250 kg MP/per hectare. Total amount of cowdung and TSP were applied during the final land preparation and urea and MP were applied in two equal installments by band placement of 3 and 5 weeks after transplanting. The seeds were sown on seedbed at five different dates on 22^nd October, 27^th October, 1^st November,6^th November and 11^th November 2001 to get 40, 35, 30, 25 and 20 days old seedlings respectively and the seedlings were transplanted on 1^st December 2001 maintaining a spacing of 60 cm x 40 cm. When the plants were established, staking was given to each plant to keep them erect. When the plants started to grow up, the plants were pruned. In case of single stem pruning, all side shoots were removed and only the main stem was allowed to grow and in double stem pruning, the main and the axially stem just after first truss were kept. Pruning was started 35 days after transplanting up to branching and was repeated at every 11-13 days. Five plants from each plot were selected at random for- recording experimental data. The collected data were analyzed statistically and means of different parameters were adjusted with Duncan's Multiple Range Test.

Source of Information: Progress. Agric. 14(1 & 2) : 27-30, 2003, ISSN 1017-8139

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The study revealed that the older was the seedling age the better was the performance but furthermore, older seedlings deteriorate the performance. This was possibly due to the early and proper establishment of the transplant, which regulated physiological and biochemical functions of the plants afterwards. It is also apparent that pruning helped provide sufficient nutrients, water and sunshine to the plants. It appeared from the present findings that only double stem pruned plants produced higher total yield, but the quality of fruits improved both in the single and double stem pruned plants. So, in order to achieve both higher yield and good quality fruits, the treatments of 30-35 days old seedlings with double stem pruning appeared to be better.

Knowledge Management: Journal