Effects of growth regulators and micronutrients on the growth, yield and quality of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) cv. Kashi Aman

Abstract

The field experiment was conducted during the rabi season 2024-25 at Department of Vegetable Science Kalyanpur of Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, (U.P.). Eleven different treatments viz., borax @ 0.2% (T1), zinc sulphate @ 0.5%(T2), micronutrient mixture @ 0.5% (T3), NAA 50 ppm (T4),NAA 50 ppm + borax @ 0.2% (T5), NAA 50 ppm + zinc sulphate@ 0.5%(T6),NAA 50 ppm + micronutrient mixture @ 0.5%, (T7), GA 50 ppm (T8), GA 50 ppm + borax @ 0.2%(T9), GA 50 ppm + zinc sulphate @ 0.5% (T10) and GA 50 ppm + micronutrient mixture @ 0.5% (T11) were tested against control (T12) in RBD design replicated thrice. Tomato variety 'Kashi Aman' was used in the experiment. The results of the experiment revealed that application of GA 50 ppm couple with micronutrient mixture @ 0.5% (T11) recorded significantly highest plant height (79.39 and 85.23 cm at 60 and 90 DAT, respectively), number of branches per plant (13.21),fruit equatorial diameter (5.96 cm), fruit polar diameter (5.68 cm), average fruit weight (112.42 gm at 4th picking), number of fruits per plant (36.70), yield/plant (2.45 kg), yield/plot (72.16 kg), yield/ha (556.80 q), TSS (5.87 °Brix), ascorbic acid (20.48 mg/100g) along with net return (Rs. 4,09,440/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (4.47). On the basis of results, it is concluded that the foliar application of GA 50 ppm couple with micronutrient mixture @ 0.5% significantly enhances the yield, quality and net returns. Hence, it may be recommended for commercial cultivation of Tomato cv. Kashi Aman under Kanpur conditions to maximize productivity and profitability.