Impact of Fertigation Schedule on Growth and Quality Parameters in Tomato

Abstract

Nutrient availability to plants precisely can be done by combining cognitive irrigation systems with nutrient application, and proper scheduling of fertilizers is the mainstay for availability of appropriate amount of nutrients for plant growth. Based on the statement a, field experiment was carried out to evaluate the efficiency of fertigation influence on growth, physiological, quality and yield parameters of TNAU Tomato hybrid CO 4. The experiment consisting of seven treatments laid in randomized block design was replicated three times. `Fertigation was given at fortnightly interval with urea, MAP, MOP as a source of N, P& K in ten splits in 150 days. Significant differences were observed with regard to growth, physiological, quality and yield parameters. All the growth, physiological, and yield parameters were higher in tomato plants which received fertigation NPK @ 75% K + 100 % N&P. Lycopene content of tomatoes was increased to 4.73 mg 100 g-1 in fertigation NPK @ 75% K + 100 % N&P (T6). Ascorbic acid, Titratable acidity, TSS, β-carotene showed the highest value in treatment which received fertigation NPK @ 75% K + 100 % N&P.