Evaluating Organic Farming Practices on Physiological Dynamics and Soil Health in Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) Varieties

Abstract

Tomato cultivation, particularly of Lycopersicon esculentum (now Solanum lycopersicum), is significant globally. Organic fertilizers, which activate beneficial soil microorganisms and improve nutrient uptake, can reduce reliance on chemical fertilizers and support agricultural sustainability, especially in developing countries like India. This study explores the seed production of organic tomato varieties VL-1 and VL-4, sourced from Vivekananda Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan (VPKAS), Almora, Uttarakhand, India. The research was conducted in an experimental field in Rampur village, Tehri Garhwal. This study aims to produce high-nutritional-quality fruits, enhance long-term soil fertility, minimize pollution from agricultural practices, and utilize renewable resources within sustainable production systems. The experimental design employed a randomized block design with 13 treatments and three replications over two cropping seasons. Field experiments revealed that vermicompost treatments significantly improved plant growth and yield parameters. In the case of VL-1, the highest field emergence (33.33%), plant height (51.56 cm), and fruit yield (21.90 kg/plot) were recorded with the application of 15 t/h vermicompost and for VL-4, the highest field emergence of 20.99% and an average height of 36.09 cm was recorded under the same treatment. Biochemical analyses indicated that VL-1 outperformed VL-4 in most parameters, including seedling growth and vigour. The findings suggest that applying organic manures, particularly vermicompost, enhances both these tomato varieties' growth and yield characteristics, highlighting the potential for sustainable organic farming practices to meet the increasing demand for organic produce.