RESPONSE OF TOMATO (Lycopersicum esculentum) TO PHOSPHORUS AND SULPHUR APPLICATION IN CALCAREOUS SOIL
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Date
2014-09
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University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot
Abstract
Tomato is an important commercial vegetable crop of Bagalkot, is also known
to tolerate the calcareous soil conditions. Phosphorus (P) availability is one of the
major constraints affecting its quality and productivity. Application of sulphur (S) is
known to enhance P availability through bio-chemical reactions and desorption
process. Hence, to study the quantity of P and S required to enhance the productivity
of tomato (Arka Ananya), a field experiment was conducted in calcareous clay loam
soil at RHREC, Bagalkot during kharif 2013. The treatments comprised of five levels
of P2O5 (125, 100, 75, 50 and 0% RDP) and four levels of S applied at the rate of 2.5,
1.5, 0.5 and 0 per cent (w/w) equivalent to active CaCO3.
Application of S with or without P resulted in increased availability of P, S
and DTPA- Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu in soil upto 40 DAP. However, later they decreased
with advancement of crop growth. But, application of P without S enhanced the
availability of P alone, while all other nutrients decreased. Application of 100% RDP
+ 2.5% S increased the concentration of total S, K, Mg, Fe, Zn and Mn in both leaves
and fruits. However, application of 125% RDP + 2.5% S recorded highest total P, N
and Cu, while, lower rates of P and S recorded higher concentration of Ca.
Application of 125% RDP + 2.5% S enhanced tomato plant height (86.53 cm),
internodal length (7.54 cm), number of branches (9.75) and flower per cluster (7.49).
However, fruit setting rate (69.37%), number of fruits per cluster (4.94), fruits
per plant (41.17), fruit weight (77.60 g) and fruit diameter (5.17 cm) were found
highest in 100% RDP + 2.5% S.
Present study indicated that the application of 100% RDP + 2.5% S was best
to obtain maximum tomato fruit yield (3.19 kg plant-1 and 42.30 t ha-1) and quality
viz., TSS (4.17°Bx), ascorbic acid (17.43 mg 100 g-1) and b-carotene (3.61 mg
100 g-1).
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