The Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences (Sep 2016)
Effect of fertigation pattern and planting geometry on growth, yield and water productivity of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)
Abstract
Field study was conducted on a sandy loam soil during 2012-13 and 2013-14 in per-humid region of India to investigate the effects of fertigation patterns and planting geometries on crop growth, yield and water productivity (WP) of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) hybrid variety Swarna Sampada. Three fertigation patterns, viz. almost uniform dose per fertigation event (FP1), higher dose during initial stage of crop (FP2) and higher dose during mid- stage of crop (FP3) in combination with 4 planting geometries, viz. rectangular planting geometry with row-to-row and plant-to-plant spacing of 50 cm × 75 cm (S1) and three triangulated paired row (60 cm between paired row) planting geometries 40 cm × 70 cm (S2), 40 cm × 50 cm (S3) and 40 cm × 30 cm (S4) were evaluated in a split plot design replicated thrice. Effect of fertigation pattern was non-significant on crop growth. Whereas crop growth was negatively impacted by the higher plant densities (40 000 and 66 600 plants/ha under S3 and S4, respectively). The fertigation pattern FP3 recorded significantly highest average tomato yield of 79.2 tonnes/ha than those of FP1 and FP2. Triangulated planting geometries S2 and S3 recorded significantly higher fruit yield of tomato than S1 and S4 planting geometries. Higher WP of 13.4 kg/m3 recorded in FP3 in comparison to rest of the two fertigation patterns. Results revealed that fruit yield of tomato responded well when higher percentage of recommended dose is applied during mid-stage (10 to 16th week after transplanting) of the crop growth period. Triangulated arrangements of planting (S2 and S3) appeared to be the most effective in terms of fruit yield and WP of drip irrigated tomato. However, S2 may be preferred among all the planting geometries due to lesser plants/ha consequently requiring lesser inputs.
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