EFFECT OF INTEGRATED NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT ON SOIL FERTILITY, SOIL ENZYME ACTIVITIES AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON FRUIT YIELD, NUTRIENT UPTAKE AND QUALITY OF TOMATO (Lycopersican esculentum L.)
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Date
2011
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ACHARYA N.G. RANGA AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY
Abstract
The present investigation entitled “Effect of integrated nutrient management on soil
fertility, soil enzyme activities and their influence on fruit yield, nutrient uptake and quality
of tomato (Lycopersican esculentum L.) was carried out under field conditions during 2010 in
kharif season to study the effects of integrated nutrient management on performance of tomato
crop in terms of yield and nutrient uptake. The transformation of applied N and K into various
fractions in relation to their availability was studied besides monitoring the changes in soil
enzymatic activity. The experiment was conducted in randomized block design with ten treatments
replicated thrice. The treatments include, T1 (Control), T2 (50% RDNF through inorganic fertilizer
+ 50% RDNF through vermicompost), T3 (75% RDNF through inorganic fertilizer + 25% RDNF
through vermicompost), T4 (100% RDNF through vermicompost), T5 (100% RDNF through
inorganic fertilizer), T6 (50% RDNF through inorganic fertilizer + 50% RDNF through poultry
manure), T7 (75% RDNF through inorganic fertilizer + 25% RDNF through poultry manure), T8
(100% RDNF through poultry manure), T9 (50% RDNF through vermicompost + 50% RDNF
through poultry manure) and T10 (50% RDNF through inorganic fertilizer + 25% RDNF through
vermicompost + 25% RDNF through poultry manure).
The soil under study was slightly alkaline (7.9) in reaction, non saline (0.13 dS m-1) in nature
and low in organic carbon (4.6 g kg-1), low in available nitrogen (230.7 kg N ha-1), medium in
available phosphorus (25.4 kg P2O5 ha-1) and potassium (284.5 kg K2O ha-1).
The effect of different treatments were evaluated in terms of dry matter production
(vegetative, flowering and at harvest) and tomato fruit yield. Plant samples were analyzed for their
per cent nutrient composition with respect to N, P and K at vegetative, flowering and at harvest and
nutrient uptake was computed. The fresh fruit samples ware analysed for quality viz., ascorbic acid
and lycopene contents. Soil nutrient status with regard to available N, P2O5 and K2O were studied
at vegetative, flowering and at harvest of tomato crop. The influence of INM was evaluated for
soil biological health by assaying soil urease, phosphatase and dehydrogenase activities. The
results of the experiment showed that the performance of tomato crop improved significantly with
integrated use of vermicompost or poultry manure and nitrogen fertilizers when compared to
application of either recommended doses of N as inorganic fertilizer or organic manures alone.
The nutrient uptake, dry matter, fruit and haulm yields of tomato were highest under 25 per
cent level of organic manure application in combination with 75 per cent of inorganic fertilizer.
Application of organic manures in combination with inorganic fertilizer increased the availability
of nutrients to tomato crop at different growth stages. Urease activity was highest under 25 per cent
level of organic manure application in combination with 75 per cent of inorganic fertilizer, while
the phosphatase and dehydrogenase activities were highest under 100 per cent organic manure
applied plots.
Among the different treatment combinations, highest fruit yield (84.97 q ha-1) was recorded at
T3 (75% RDNF + 25% VC) followed by T7 (75% RDNF + 25% PM) and T5 (100% RDNF).
However, the values were on par with each other and superior over other treatments. The quality
parameters viz., ascorbic acid (30.83 mg 100g-1) and lycopene content (4.05 mg 100g-1) were
influenced by organic manures. Gross returns were highest under 25 per cent level of organic
manure application in combination with 75 per cent of inorganic fertilizer followed by 100 per cent
inorganic fertilizer alone. However, net returns and B:C ratio were highest under 100 per cent
inorganic fertilizer followed by 25 per cent level of organic manure application in combination
with 75 per cent of inorganic fertilizer because of cost prohibitiveness of VC and PM. Based on the
results of this study, it can be concluded that the combined use of 75% RDNF + 25% of N through
VC or PM is the best for obtaining highest yield apart from maintaining soil biological activity and
soil fertility for longer period.
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Keywords
organic fertilizers, vegetables, nutrients, fertilizers, fruits, enzymes, harvesting, crops, yields, biological development, SOIL FERTILITY, SOIL ENZYME, FRUIT YIELD, Lycopersican esculentum L.