Growth and yield of tomato in soilless media under naturally ventilated polyhouse

Abstract

The present study was done to explore possibility of substrate/ growing media other than soil which can support good crop growth accompanied by water saving and get rid of some soil borne diseases under protected cultivation. The aim of the experiment was to identify suitable indeterminate tomato cultivars for Punjab in soilless cultivation and to standardize management practices for growing tomato in soilless (coco peat) media with different fertigation levels under protected cultivation. The treatments comprised of two indeterminate tomato cultivars ‘Punjab Sartaj’ (PAU) and ‘Heemshikahar’ along with ‘NS 4266’ and three levels of fertigation as F1 = 70% of RDF, F2 = 85% of RDF and F3 = 100% of RDF. Results showed that maximum fruit yield (6.10 and 6.68 kg plant-1) was obtained during respective years with application of 100 per cent RDF, which was statistically at par with 85% RDF (5.70 and 6.20 kg plant-1) but significantly higher than 70% RDF (4.94 and 5.62 kg plant-1) application. Among the cultivars with 100% RDF, ‘NS 4266’ recorded significantly higher fruit yield (6.68 kg plant-1) which was 22.8 and 29.7 percent higher than ‘Heemshikahar’ and ‘Punjab Sartaj’, respectively. During the second year ‘Punjab Sartaj’ produced fruit yield statistically at par with ‘Heemshikahar’ but significantly lower than ‘NS 4266.