Response of tomato hybrids to different growing media and fertigation on quality characters of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill) under naturally ventilated Polyhouse

Abstract

An experiment was conducted in naturally ventilated polyhouse during summer-season (March to August) in the year 2013 and 2014 at the Research Farm of the Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya Palampur, to study response of tomato hybrids to different growing media and fertigation on quality characters of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill) under naturally ventilated polyhouse. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with treatments comprising three hybrids (Avtar, Rakshita and Naveen 2000 plus), three fertigation levels (NPK @ 20:20:20 g/m2, NPK @ 25:25:25 g/m2 and NPK @ 30:30:30 g/m2) and two growing media (vermicompost and cocopeat: vermicompost). Hybrid Naveen 2000 plus registered significantly higher pericarp thickness, highest total soluble solids and highest titrable acidity over other two hybrids. Highest ascorbic acid was recorded in Hybrid Avtar which was significantly higher than Rakshita and Naveen 2000 plus. Maximum total soluble solids, ascorbic acid and titrable acidity were observed at NPK @ 30 g/m2 which were significantly higher than NPK @ 25 g/m2 and NPK @ 20 g/m2. Growing media comprising cocopeat: vermicompost (1:1, v/v) registered maximum pericarp thickness, highest total soluble solids, titrable acidity. Growing media comprising vermicompost registered ascorbic acid which was significantly higher than growing medium containing cocopeat: vermicompost (1:1, v/v).