Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management on Growth, Yield, and Economics of Tomato under Polyhouse Conditions
A. M. Butani
College of Horticulture, JAU, Junagadh, Gujarat, India.
Mital Vaghasiya
College of Horticulture, JAU, Junagadh, Gujarat, India.
Kinnari D. Mithapara *
College of Horticulture, JAU, Junagadh, Gujarat, India.
D. K. Varu
College of Horticulture, JAU, Junagadh, Gujarat, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
A two-year experiment was conducted at the Hi-Tech Greenhouse, College of Horticulture, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh, Gujarat, during 2021-22 and 2022-23 to evaluate nutrient-management strategies for tomato under polyhouse conditions. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomised design with eight treatments and three replications. Treatments included the recommended dose of fertiliser (RDF; 25.0-12.5-12.5 kg N-P₂O₅-K₂O per 1000 m²) alone or in combination with micronutrients, Panchgavya, seaweed extract, banana pseudostem sap, Go Krupa Amrutam, a microbial formulation, and a natural-farming nutrient package. Pooled analysis showed that 100% RDF + Panchgavya 3% (T3) recorded the highest plant height (281.69 cm) and number of branches per plant (11.73), together with the earliest flowering (40.30 days) and first picking (95.53 days); these growth and phenological responses were statistically at par with T8. T3 also recorded the highest fruit weight (69.65 g), number of fruits per plant (61.02), total soluble solids (4.28 °Brix), and pooled fruit yield (4.13 kg/plant; 26.24 t/1000 m²). The pooled fruit yield of T3 was significantly higher than that of the other treatments at the 5% level. The highest net realization was also obtained with T3 (INR 350,331 per 1000 m²). The results indicate that integrating RDF with a 3% Panchgavya foliar spray is a promising nutrient-management option for tomato under the tested polyhouse conditions.
Keywords: Integrated nutrient management, Panchgavya, polyhouse, tomato, yield