Effect of bulky and concentrated organic manures on the growth, yield, quality enhancement and soil properities of Tomato

This experiment was conducted to standardize the quantity of bulky and concentrated organic manures required for tomato as a substitute for the inorganic fertilizers. Solarization was done for a period of 6 weeks during April-May 2009, using 300 guage transparent polythene sheets. As per the schedule of treatments, basal dose of manures were incorporated before solarization. After the removal of trap, transplanting of solarized tomato seedlings were done on 3rd day leaving 2 days gap. In the main field, an experiment was conducted to standardize the quantity of bulky and concentrated organic manures for tomato to substitute the inorganic fertilizers. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with 14 treatments in 3 replications. The treatment schedule included various levels of bulky (25 and 75 % N) and concentrated organic manures (25 and 75 % N), inorganic fertilizers along with an absolute control. The bulky organic manures used were FYM and vermicompost and the concentrated manures used were neem cake and castor cake. The nutrient content of bulky and concentrated organic manures used in the study were FYM (0.80, 0.41 and 0.74 % NPK), vermicompost (1.60, 2.20 and 0.67 % NPK), poultry manure (3.47, 1.33 and 3.1 NPK), neem cake (5.2, 1.0 and 1.4 % NPK) and castor cake (4.1, 1.9 and 1.4 % NPK). The experiment was initiated in June 2009. Among the various levels and sources of organic manures and inorganic fertilizers tried, inorganic fertilizers recorded the maximum growth characters, yield attributes, fruit yield and highest nutrient uptake. Among the organic manures and concentrated oil cakes applied, 75 per cent N supplied through vermicompost @ 10.03 t ha-1 along with 25 per cent N supplied through neem cake @ 0.73 t ha-1 followed by poultry manure@ 2.16 t ha-1 neem cake @ 0.73 t ha-1 was identified as the best treatments in tomato The quality attributes viz., ascorbic acid content and acidity in tomato were found to be maximum under inorganic fertilization as well as 75 per cent N supplied through vermicompost along with 25 per cent N supplied through neem cake. Both the treatments were found to be influencing these traits at same level. This was closely followed by the application of 75 per cent N supplied through poultry manure along with 25 per cent N supplied through neem cake. The maximum availability of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in post harvest soil was recorded in plots incorporated with the application of 75 per cent N supplied through vermicompost @ along with 25 per cent N supplied through neem cake followed by the application of 75 per cent N supplied through poultry manure along with 25 per cent N supplied through neem cake in tomato.