Effect of integrated nutrient management on growth and yield of tomato in Begusarai district of Bihar

Abstract

A field experiment consisting of nine treatments including control was conducted to find out the most appropriate integrated nutrient management system for sustainable tomato production during 2013-15. It was found that the application of 50% RDF + vermicompost @ 2 tonnes/ha + soil and seedling treatment with Azotobacter and PSB appeared as the most suited combination for providing maximum plant height and number of primary branches/ plant, earliest days to flowering and picking of first fruit, maximum number of fruits/ plant, most superior fruit weight, highest yield / plant and highest TSS. The maximum yield/ ha (784 q/ ha), net return (Rs. 850,300) and B:C ratio (9.39) were also recorded with application of 50% RDF + vermicompost @ 2 tonnes/ ha + soil and seedling treatment with Azotobacter and PSB. The application of 50% RDF + vermicompost @ 2 tonne/ ha proved as the next better treatment followed by 100% RDF.