Effect of organic manures and biofertilizers on plant growth, seed yield and seedling characteristics in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.)

Abstract

The experiment was conducted at Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences. Naini, Allahabad during Kharif season of 2016, to study the effects of organic manures and biofertilizers on plant growth, seed yield and seedling characteristics in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) C.V. Arka vikas. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design at spacing 60 cm A— 40 cm with 3 replication having 8 treatments comprised of farmyard manure, poultry manure and biofertilizers (Azospirillum and P-solubilizing bacteria) with recommend dose of fertilizer. The observations were recorded on different growth, yield and seedling attributes. Among eight treatments under study, treatment T7 (Biofertilizers with RDF) was recorded maximum plant height (53.08, 87.23 and 136.24 cm), number of leaves per plant (90, 139.13 and 132.40) at 30,60 and 90 days after transplanting respectively and shows minimum days to 50% flowering (37.77). The yield parameters like number of fruits per plant (31.13), fruit weight per plant (1.35 kg), number of seeds per fruit (81.93), seed yield per plant (3.04 g), seed yield per plot (36.58 g) and seed yield per hectare (97.55 kg) recorded highest in treatment T7 (Biofertilizers with RDF) followed by T6 (Biofertilizers with 50% PM + 50% FYM).The treatment T7 recorded highest 1000 seed weight (2.89 g), germination (85.66 %), shoot length (9.98 cm), root length (8.97 cm), dry weight of seedling (26.04 mg) and seedling vigour index (1625.29) followed by T6.