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Effect of Level of Phosphorus and Mulching on Growth and Yield of Tomato (lycopersicon Lycopersicum L.)

Sheikh Maniruzzaman,
Scientific Officer
Plant Breeding Division, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Gazipur 1701, Bangladesh

Tahmina Akter
Post Graduate Student
Department of Horticulture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh

Dr. Md. Azizur Rahman
Professor
Department of Horticulture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh

Md. Hasibur Rahaman Hera
Scientific Officer
Plant Pathology Division, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Gazipur 1701, Bangladesh

Md. Maksudul Haque
Senior Scientific Officer
Bangladesh Institute of Research and Training on Applied Nutrition (BIRTAN), Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

A field experiment was conducted at the Horticulture Farm of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh to investigate the effect of different levels of phosphorus and mulches on growth, yield attributes and yield of tomato cv. Roma VF. The experiment was laid out in two-factor randomized complete block design with three replications. The highest plant height (56.14 cm), flower cluster number (22.39 per plant), flower number (99.01 per plant), fruit number (31.57 per plant), fruit length (6.95 cm), fruit diameter (4.33 cm), single fruit weight (60.23 g), fruit weight per plant (1.91kg) and fruit yield per hectare (62.39 t/ha) was recorded in plants applied with 120 kg P/ha followed by 80 kg P/ha. In contrast, low field yield treatment (1.19 kg per plant and 49.70 t/ha) were recorded from the control plant where no phosphorus were applied. Among the mulches, the tallest plant height (54.48 cm), the highest number of leaves (50.15), number of flower clusters per plant (21.71), number of flowers per plant (97.92) and fruits per plant (1.78 kg). The highest yield attributes (fruit length, fruit diameter and single fruit weight) and fruit yield were recorded in water hyacinth mulch followed by rice straw. In conclusion 80 kg P/ha with use of water hyacinth mulch is suitable for maximizing fruit yield of tomato cv. Roma
VF.

Keywords: Tomato, Mulching, Phosphorus level, Yield

Location: Horticulture Farm of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh

Start Date: 02-10-2009

End Date: 06-01-2010

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Tomato

Objectives:

i) to find out the effect of different phosphorus on growth and yield of tomato;

ii) to assess the optimum level of phosphorus for maximizing the fruit yield in tomato; and

iii) to determine the suitable mulch for maximum production of tomato.

Methodology:

The field experiment was carried out at the Horticulture Farm of the Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh to find out the effect of phosphorus and mulching on the growth and yield of tomato. The soil of the experimental area was sandy loam and belongs to the Old Brahmaputraputra Flood Plain Alluvial Tract (UNDP, 1988) of Agro Ecological Zone 9 (AEZ-9) having non-calcareous soil. The selected site was a medium high land and the pH of the soil was 6.3 with organic matter content of 1.21%. The tomato variety used in the experiment was Roma-VF.
This is a high yielding indeterminate type plant and the seeds were collected from Bangladesh Agricultural University, (BAU) Mymensingh. The land selected for nursery beds was well drained and was of sandy loam type soil. The experiment consisted of two factors: Factor A: Four different levels of phosphorus P0: 0 kg P/ha, P1 : 40 kg P/ha, P2: 80 kg P/ha, P3 : 120 kg P/ha. Factor B: Mulch M0: No mulch, M1: Water hyacinth, M2: Straw , M3: Banana leaf. Thus, the experiment consisting of 16 treatment combinations was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replication. The whole field was divided into three blocks each containing 16 plots. In total, there were 48 unit plots. The treatment combinations were randomly assigned to each unit plot so as to allot one treatment combination only one in each block of unit plot was 2.4 m × 1.6 m. The distance between the blocks was 1m and that between plots was 50 cm. The land for growing the crop was opened with a tractor. Thereafter, it was gradually ploughed and cross-ploughed several times with power tiller. Each ploughing was followed by laddering to break the clods to level the soil. During land preparation, weeds and stubbles of the previous crop were collected and remove from the land. These operations were done to bring the land under a good tilth. The entire quantity of cowdung (10 t/ha) was applied just after opening the land. Urea and TSP were applied as the source of nitrogen and phosphorus respectively, as per treatments. A basal dressing of potassium at 250 kg MP/ha (BARC, 1997) was given to all treatments including the control plots. Urea and MOP were applied in three installments. Urea and MOP were applied by broad casting four days before transplanting. The fertilizers were mixed thoroughly with soil by hand. TSP was applied as per dose. The second and third doses of Urea and MOP were added as top dressing at 21 and 35 days after transplanting. Healthy and uniform sized 30 days old seedlings were taken separately from the seed bed and were transplanted in the experimental field maintaining a spacing of 60 cm and 40 cm between the rows and plants, respectively. The seed beds were watered before uprooting the seedlings so as to minimize damage to the roots. This operation was carried out during late hours in the evening. The seedlings were watered after transplanting. Shading was provided by pieces of banana leaf sheath for three days to protect the seedling from the direct sun. Seedlings were also grown around the experimental area to do gap filling and to check the border effect. After transplanting the seedlings, various kinds of intercultural operations were accomplished for better growth and development of the plants. When the seedlings were established, the soil around the base of each seedling was pulverized. Gap filling was done by healthy plants from the border whenever it was required. Weeding was accomplished as and whenever necessary to keep the crop free from weeds, for better soil aeration and to break the crust. It also helped in soil moisture conservation. When the plants were well established, staking was given to each plant by daincha (Sesbania sp.) sticks to keep them erect. When a few days of staking, as the plants grew up, the plants were pruned uniformly
having single main stem per plant. Two irrigations were given throughout the growing period by watering can. The first irrigation was given 40 days after planting followed by irrigation 20 days after the first irrigation. Mulching was also done after each irrigation at appropriate time by breaking the soil crust. Insect pests: As preventive measure against the insect pests like cut worm, leaf hopper and others; Diazinon 60 EC was applied at the rate of 2 ml/litre. The insecticide application were made fortnightly from a week after transplanting to a week before first harvesting. During foggy weather precautionary measures against disease infestation especially late blight of tomato were taken by spraying Dithane M-45 fortnightly @ 2 g/l. Fruits were harvested at 5 days intervals during maturing and ripening stage. The maturity of the crop was determined on the basis of red colouring of fruits. Data on the following parameters were recorded form the sample plants during the course of experiment. Ten plants were selected randomly from each plot in such a way that the border effect was avoided for the highest precision. Data were collected in respect of the following parameters. Plant height (cm), Total number of leaves, Days to first flowering, Number of flower cluster per plant, Number of flowers per cluster, Number of flower per plant, Number of fruit per plant, Weight of individual fruit (g), Weight of fruit per plant (kg), Fruit length, Fruit diameter (cm), Fruit yield per hectare.

Source of Information: Global Advanced Research Journal of Agricultural Science (ISSN: 2315-5094) Vol. 7(11) pp. 348-365, November, 2018 Issue.

Article Link (Online Journal): Available online http://garj.org/garjas/home

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

In this study, it may be concluded that tomato growth and yield were affected by different levels of phosphorus application and the highest fruit yield (73.85 t/ha) was found from 120 kg P/ha which statistically similar to the highest 80 kg P/ha of suggesting that application of 80 kg P/ha to be economic for tomato cultivation. Mulches had significant positive influence on growth and yield of tomato over control; and among the mulches, water hyacinth had remarkable superiority for plant growth and yield (73.85 kg/ha) over control mulch (35.35 kg/ha) which resulting the highest fruit yield in tomato. So, we may use water hyacinth mulch for increased tomato fruit yield during winter season; and the treatment combination of 80 kg P/ha with water hyacinth mulch is suitable for maximizing fruit yield of tomato cv. Roma VF.

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