Effect of micronutrients on fruit quality, shelf life and economics of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) cv. pkm-1

Abstract

The present investigation entitled “Effect of micronutrients on fruit quality, shelf life and Economics of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) cv. PKM-1” was under taken at vegetable research field, Department of Horticulture, Allahabad School of Agriculture, Sam Higginbottom Institute of Agriculture, Technology & Sciences (SHIATS), Allahabad during rabi season (2015-2016). The experiment was laid out in Randomized block design with 13 treatments and each replicated thrice. The treatments consists of different combinations of micronutrients i.e., zinc, boron, copper and iron. Among these thirteen treatments, treatment T12 (ZnSO4 +B3HO3 +CuSO4 +FeSO4 @500ppm) was recorded the maximum maximum fruit yield per ha (33.62t) followed by treatment T11 (ZnSO4 +B3HO3 +CuSO4 +FeSO4 @250ppm). Among the quality parameters TSS (5.00Brix) was found maximum in treatment T11(ZnSO4 +B3HO3 +CuSO4 +FeSO4 @250ppm) followed by treatment T12(ZnSO4 +B3HO3 +CuSO4 +FeSO4 @500ppm) whereas juiciness (31.24%), titrable acidity (1.06%), Ascorbic acid content (26.67mg/100 g fruit juice) and shelf life (11.39) days at normal room temperature was recorded maximum in treatment T11(ZnSO4 +B3HO3 +CuSO4 +FeSO4 @250ppm) followed by T12(ZnSO4 +B3HO3 +CuSO4 +FeSO4 @500ppm). Maximum gross returns (Rs.3, 37,700 ha-1), net returns (Rs. 2,14,925 ha-1) and B: C ratio (2.75:1) was found to be best with treatment with T12 (ZnSO4 +B3HO3 +CuSO4 +FeSO4 @500ppm)