SHARMA, HEM RAJSINGH, SANDEEP KUMAR2016-05-312016-05-312013http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/66486ABSTRACT The present study entitled “Response of tomato genotypes to different mulches and biofertilizers” was carried out at the experimental farm of Horticulture Research Station, Kandaghat, Dr Y S Parmar U H F, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, during 2011 and 2012. The experiment comprised of three genotypes (V1-Naveen 2000+, V2-Sun-7711 and V3-Solan Lalima), three mulches (M0-No mulch, M1-Pine needle mulch and M2- black polyethylene) and three biofertilizers (B0-recommended NPK, B1-100 % NPK + Azotobacter (1g/plant) + PSB (1g/plant) and B2-75 % NPK + Azotobacter (1g/plant) + PSB (1g/plant). Thus, there were 27 treatment combinations which were replicated thrice in Split-Split Plot Design. The observations were recorded on number of days to first flowering, number of days to first harvest, harvest duration, number of fruits/plant, average fruit weight (g), fruit length (cm), fruit width (cm), plant height (m), yield (kg/plant), yield (kg/plot), yield (q/ha), pericarp thickness (mm), TSS (0Brix), acidity (%), shelf life (days), fruit firmness (g per 0.503cm2) ascorbic acid (mg/100g), lycopene content (mg/100g), incidence of buckeye rot (%), severity of bacterial leaf spot (%), early blight (%), septoria blight (%) available nitrogen (kg/ha), phosphorus (kg/ha), potash (kg/ha), organic carbon (%), pH and electrical conduvtivity. Among varieties, maximum yield was observed with the variety V2 (Sun-7711), but the fruit quality characters as well as the ability to resist disease incidence/severity was observed with the variety V3 (Solan Lalima). Among the mulch materials the M2 (Black polythene) and biofertilizers B1 (100% NPK + Azotobacter (1g/plant) + PSB (1g/plant) were recorded to be the best regarding the fruit yield, quality and soil nutrient status as well as disease incidence/severity. The first order interactions viz., varieties x mulch, biofertilizers x mulch and varieties x biofertilizers significantly affected most of the characters under study. Maximum fruit yield was obtained with treatment combinations of V2M2 (Sun-7711 applied with black polyethylene mulch), B2M2 (75% NPK + Azotobacter (1g/plant) + PSB (1g/plant) applied with black polyethylene mulch) and V2B2 (Sun-7711with 75 % NPK + Azotobacter (1g/plant) + PSB (1g/plant). Further in three factor interaction, the highest fruit yield (1037.33 q/ha) with maximum net returns (Rs. 436059.51) and highest cost benefit ratio (1:5.28) was obtained with the treatment combination of Sun- 7711, 75% NPK + Azotobacter (1g/plant) + PSB (1g/plant) and black polyethylene mulch (V2B2M2).encultivation, fruits, vegetables, yields, diseases, biofertilizers, planting, biological development, azotobacter, acidityTomatoes GenotypesThesis