Effect of Phosphorus and Mulching on Yield of Tomato

SAARC J. Agric., 18(1): 153-160 (2020) DOI: https://doi.org/10.3329/sja.v18i1.48389 Research Article EFFECT OF PHOSPHORUS AND MULCHING ON YIELD OF TOMATO M.M.A. Mondal1 and M.I. Hoque2* 1 Crop Physiology Division, Bangladesh Institute of nuclear Agriculture BAU Campus, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh 2 Plant Breeding Division, Bangladesh Institute of nuclear Agriculture BAU Campus, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh ABSTRACT The field experiment was carried out at Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture, Mymensingh during October 2017 to March 2018, to investigate the effect of different levels of phosphorus and mulches on growth, yield attributes and yield of tomato cv. Roma VF. -1 Two factors: (i) Four levels phosphorus viz., 0, 40, 80 and 120 kg P ha and (ii) four different mulches viz., no mulch (control), water hyacinth, rice straw and banana leaves. The experiment was laid out in two factors randomized complete block design with four replications. The effect of phosphorus levels and mulches on morphological characters: plant -1 height, leaf number plant , reproductive characters: number of flower -1 -1 clusters plant , flowers plant , days to flowering and yield contributing -1 characters: number of fruits plant , fruit length, single fruit weight and -1 -1 fruit yield both plant and ha was significant. The highest morphological and reproductive characters, yield contributing characters and fruit yield -1 -1 -1 (71.98 t ha ) were recorded in 120 kg P ha followed by 80 kg P ha -1 (69.76 t ha ) with same statistical rank. In contrast, the above -1 morphological, reproductive, yield attributes and fruit yield (47.62 t ha ) was recorded in control plant where no phosphorus was applied. -1 Application of P @ 80 kg ha was found suitable dose for tomato cultivation. Among the three mulches, water hyacinth had remarkable effect on plant growth and yield attributes which resulting the highest fruit -1 yield (68.35 t ha ) in tomato. So, we may use water hyacinth mulch with application of 80 kg P for maximizing tomato fruit yield during winter season for silty loam soil. Keywords: Tomato, Phosphorus, Mulching, Yield, Fertilizer * Corresponding author: Received: 11.05.2020 Accepted: 20.06.2020 154 Mondal and Hoque INTRODUCTION Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) is one of the popular and nutritious vegetable crops all over the world including Bangladesh. It contains vitamin A, B and C including calcium and carotene. The amount of nutrient is 1.98 g protein, 320 IU vitamin-A, 1.8 mg iron and 31 mg vitamin-C in 100 g edible tomato (Parnell et al., 2004). Lycopene in tomato is a powerful antioxidant and reduces the risk of prostate cancer (Tegen et al., 2016). Phosphorus (P) fertilizer occupies the second most important input after nitrogen for increasing crop production. Optimum level of P is essential for rapid root development and for good utilization of water and other nutrients by plant. P has pronounced effect on flower cluster production and the number of flowers that increases the yield of tomato (Zhang et al., 2007). Further many researchers reported that P fertilizer significantly increased the yield of tomato (Solaiman and Rabbani, 2006; Etissa et al., 2013, Kumar et al., 2013). The macronutrient fertilizers including P fertilizer consumption in Bangladesh are still below the level required for normal crop growth and development which resulted lower yield in tomato. To optimize the nutrient supply for proper growth and development of tomato crop, judicious fertilization is essential. Optimum rate of macronutrients including phosphorus not only increases the yield but also increase the quality of tomato (Kumar et al., 2013). Mulching is a desirable management practice which is reported to regulate soil temperature, improve soil moisture, suppress weed growth and save labor cost (Kayum et al., 2008). The practice has been reported to increase yield by creating favorable temperature and moisture regimes in different parts of the world (Biswas et al., 2015). Water is the single factor which directly affects the tomato yield, because it contains 94% water. For successful crop about 285 mm water is required especially at flowering, fruit setting and enlargement stage (Jain et al., 2000). But irrigation facilities are not sufficient in all the regions of the country. Under the situation mulch play an important role in conserving soil moisture (Kayum et al., 2008). It improves the soil physical conditions by enhancing the biological activity of soil fauna and thus increases the soil fertility (Gordon et al., 2010). Artificial mulches with straw, rice husk, water hyacinth, crop residues or plastic mulch are generally practiced in the production of horticultural crops (Biswas et al., 2015). The present study was undertaken to assess the optimum level of phosphorus and to determine suitable mulch for maximum production of tomato. MATERIAL AND METHODS The field experiment was carried out at the Research Farm of the Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture, Mymensingh during the period from October 2017 to March 2018. The selected site was a medium high land and the pH of the soil was 6.4 with organic matter content of 1.21%. The analytical data of the soil sample from the experimental area was organic matter 1.67%, N 0.09%, available P PHOSPHORUS AND MULCHING ON TOMATO YIELD 155 4.81ppm, exchangeable K 0.27 me/100 g and available S 13.9 ppm. The tomato variety Roma-VF was used as planting material in the experiment. The experiment consisted of two factors: Factor A: Four different levels of phosphorus such as 0, 40, 80 and 120 kg ha-1 and Factor B: three mulches such as water hyacinth, rice straw and banana leaves. The experiment was laid out in two factors randomized complete block design with four replications. Seeds were sown in seedbed on 29 October 2017 and 27-day old seedlings were transplanted in the experimental field with recommended spacing of 50 cm × 50 cm. The unit plot size was 4 m × 3 m. Urea, muriate of potash (MoP), gypsum and cow dung were applied at the rate of 280 kg ha-1, 180 kg ha-1, 80 kg ha-1 and 10000 kg ha-1, respectively (BARC, 2012). The triple superphosphate (TSP) was applied according to treatment. Whole amount of TSP, gypsum and half of MoP were applied as basal dose during final land preparation, cow dung also applied before 10 days of final land preparation. The remaining half of MoP was applied as top dressing at 45 days after transplanting (DAT). Half of urea was applied as top dress at 21 DAT and remaining half was applied at 45 DAT. Weeding, pruning, staking, pesticides spray and other intercultural operations were done when required.The first trip irrigation was given 30 days after planting (DAP) followed by irrigation at 45 DAT. Mulching was also done after second irrigation at appropriate time by breaking the soil crust.At harvest, ten plants from each plot were selected randomly for data recording on morphological and rep (...truncated)