Effect of agronomic practices on growth, yield and quality parameters of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) under open field conditions

Abstract

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is a high-value horticultural crop cultivated extensively across diverse agro-climatic regions. Its productivity and quality are greatly influenced by agronomic practices such as plant spacing, irrigation scheduling, and nutrient management. This study was conducted to assess the combined effects of different spacing (50 × 50 cm, 60 × 60 cm, and 75 × 60 cm), irrigation intervals (every 3 days and every 5 days), and fertilization regimes (100% recommended dose of fertilizers [RDF], 50% RDF + 10 t/ha FYM, and FYM @ 20 t/ha) on the growth, yield, and quality of tomato under open field conditions. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design with factorial arrangement and three replications using tomato cultivar ‘Arka Rakshak’. Results revealed that the treatment combination of 60 × 60 cm spacing, irrigation every 3 days, and 50% RDF + FYM (10 t/ha) significantly enhanced plant height (85.3 cm), number of branches (8.4), fruit yield (48.2 t/ha), and average fruit weight (84.6 g). This combination also improved fruit quality, with lycopene content of 7.2 mg/100g fresh weight, TSS of 4.6 °Brix, and titratable acidity of 0.45%. The integrated nutrient management approach proved superior in promoting both productivity and nutritional attributes of tomato. Significant interaction effects among spacing, irrigation, and fertilization highlight the importance of adopting a combined agronomic strategy rather than modifying single factors in isolation. The study concludes that integrated agronomic management involving moderate spacing, timely irrigation, and combined organic-inorganic fertilization offers a sustainable approach for improving tomato yield and quality. These findings provide valuable insights for farmers and researchers aiming to optimize tomato cultivation in open-field conditions.