Yield Response of Tomato under Different Combination of Manures and Fertilizers

Abstract

An experiment was carried out on yield response of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) under different combination of manures and fertilizers at Hogladanga village under the Batiaghata upazila of Khulna district during November, 2013 to March, 2014. The experiment was set up in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The experiment consisted of seven treatments. The treatments were T₁= Recommended doses of NPK (Urea @ 350 kg ha⁻¹, TSP @ 250 kg ha⁻¹, MoP 300 kg ha⁻¹, respectively), T₂= Cowdung @10 t ha⁻¹, T₃= Vermicompost @ 10 t ha⁻¹, T₄= Trichoderma compost @10 t ha⁻¹, T₅= 50 % Cowdung + 50 % Recommended doses of fertilizer, T₆ = 50 % Vermicompost + 50 % Recommended doses of fertilizer and T₇= 50 % Trichoderma compost + 50 % Recommended doses of fertilizer. The response on growth and physio-morphological characteristics, yield attributes and yield of tomato were positively and significantly influenced by the application of vermicompost with recommended dose of NPK and also Trichoderma compost with the recommended dose of NPK. In most cases T₆ (50 % Vermicompost + 50 % recommended doses of fertilizer) treatment performed better. However, the maximum yield of tomato (78.02 t ha⁻¹) was obtained from the treatment receiving 50 % Vermicompost + 50 % recommended doses of fertilizer and the lowest yield of tomato (42.36 t ha⁻¹) was obtained from treatment T₂ (Cowdung @10 t ha⁻¹). The highest benefit cost ratio (BCR) of tomato (3.15) was obtained from application of 50 % vermicompost + 50 % Recommended doses of fertilizer due to higher yield and market value. So, 50 % vermicompost + 50% recommended doses of fertilizer treatment (T₆) was proved more profitable and sustainable for cultivation of tomato obtaining better yield.