Effect of planting density and fertigation on physical quality of fruit, fruit retention and yield in processing varieties of tomato

Abstract

The Abhinav variety recorded the highest fruit diameter (5.44 cm), fruit weight (116.41g) and fruit yield per hectare (119.78 tonnes). Planting density at 60 cm x 60 cm (S2) recorded significantly the highest fruit diameter (5.42 cm) and fruit weight (1123.98 g) followed by 75 cm x 40 cm (S3) (5.35 cm) (114.04 g). The lowest fruit diameter (5.21 cm) and fruit weight (106.51 g) was recorded by the planting density at 120 cm x 40 cm (S3). Application of 180N: 90P: 90K kg per ha (F3) recorded the highest fruit diameter (5.37 cm), fruit weight (107.55g) and fruit yield per hectare (131.61 tonnes) followed by 150N: 75P: 75K kg per ha (F2). The lowest fruit diameter (5.27 cm), fruit weight (106.21g) and fruit yield per hectare (87.76 tonnes) was recorded by the application of 120N: 60P: 60K kg per ha (F1). Among interaction combinations, the highest fruit weight was recorded by the combination of variety Abhinav + 60 cm x 60 cm (S2) + 180N: 90P: 90K kg per ha (142.86 g).