Combined Effect of Zinc and Boron with Fruit Thinning on the Quality Seed Production of Tomato

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at the Horticulture Farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka during the period from October 2017 to April 2018. The present research was aimed to study effect of combinations of zinc and boron with fruit thinning on the quality seed production of tomato. There were four combination of zinc and boron viz. T0 =Zn0 kgB0kg/ha, T1=Zn2 kg B1.5 kg/ha, T2=Zn4kg B2 kg/ha, T3=Zn6B2.5 kg/ha and four levels of fruit thinning viz. P0= control (without fruit thinning), P1= 10 fruits were retained per plant, P2=20 fruits were retained per plant and P3 =30 fruits were retained per plant. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with 3 replications and there were altogether 48 plots. Application of micronutrients with fruit thinning significantly influenced the growth and seed yield of tomato. The highest seed yield (297.82 kg/ha) was found from T3 and the lowest yield (260.69 kg/ha) was obtained from T0. Due to the fruit thinning, the highest seed yield (337.41 kg/ha) was obtained from P3 and lowest yield (190.69 kg/ha) was recorded from P1. In case of combined effect, the highest yield (360.39 kg/ha) was found from T3P3 and lowest yield (180.39 kg/ha) was found from T0P1. So, application of Zn6 kg B2.5 kg/ha along with 30 fruits were retained per plant was the best for yield of tomato seed.