Fertigation schedules and NPK doses influence growth and yield of tomato under polyhouse condition

Abstract: An experiment was conducted to develop a fertigation schedule and assess the effect of different levels of NPK on the growth, yield and quality attributes of tomato grown under polyhouse conditions. There were nine different treatments of 75, 100 and 125 per cent RDF at three intervals (two, three and four days) of fertigation. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design with three replications. Most of the traits under study were significantly influenced by various levels of fertigation except specific gravity. Results revealed that maximum plant height (241.70 cm), number of branches (18.24), leaf area (328.70 sq cm), number of fruits per plant (83.42), weight of fruits (88.53 g), volume of fruits (90.88 cc), length of fruit (5.88 cm), yield per plant (7385.04 g) and yield per square meter (17.72 kg) were reported for treatment 125 % RDF at three days interval) followed by 125 % RDF at two days interval). In contrast, treatment 125 % RDF at four days interval) taken minimum days to first harvest (84.97) and was earliest among the treatments studied. Thus, tomato crops grown under polyhouse conditions should be supplemented with 125 percent of RDF i.e. 225 kg N, 125 kg each of P and K per ha, along with three days interval of fertigation for higher yield.