Effect of different N.P.K. levels on the vegetation and productivity of tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum L.

The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of different NPK levels on the vegetation and productivity of tomato, at University Orchard, Department of Horticulture, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam during 1998- 99. One and half month old seedlings of tomato variety Pomodoro were grown on ridges in a three replicated randomized complete block design, to test the following fertility levels; 40-30-35, 40-0000, 60-50-45, 60-00-00, 80-70- 55 and 80- 00-00 kg per hectare. The nitrogen application in varying levels, without and in combination with P and K had significant (P 0.01) effect on number. of days taken to flowering, number of fruits per plant, weight of fruits per plant, juice percentage, and fruit yield per plot and per hectare. Application of 80-70-55 kg per hectare produced delayed flowering in 51.33 days, maximum plant height 55 cm, greater number of fruits 21.67 per plant, maximum fruit weight 1548.61 g per plant, maximum juice content in tomato fruit 30%. Highest fruit yield 14.83 kg per plot and 14120.67 kg per hectare. On the other hand, when N was applied at the same rate (80 kg per hectare), but P and C were absent, there was considerable suppression in all the growth and yield components, and produced flowering in 56 days plant height 52.33 cm, number of 21 fruit weight 1526 g per plant, juice 2.8.98% fruit yield 14.41 kg per plot and 13746.67 kg per hectare. The NPK application at the rate of 60-50- 45 kg per hectare took flowering in 53.67 days, plant height 49.33 cm, number of fruits 17.67 per plant, fruit weight 1236.67 g per plant, juice content in tomato fruit 26.71 % fruit yield 13.66 kg per plot and 13010 kg per hectare. Similarly, when N was applied at the same rate (60 kg per hectare), but P and K were stopped, there was considerable adverse effect on all the growth and yield components, and produced flowering in 52 days, plant height 47.67 cm, number of fruits 16.67 per plant, fruit weight 1210 g per plant, juice content in fruit 26.06 % fruit yield 12.96 kg per plot and 12356.67 kg per hectare. The results further illustrated that the minimum values regarding all the growth and yield components were recorded in. case of N at the rate of 40 kg per hectare, but: no P and K. In absence of P and K but lowest N level (60 kg) the crop produced flowering in 49.33 days, plant height 41 cm, number of fruits 13 per plant, fruit weight 900 g per plant, juice content in fruit 23.931, fruit yield 10.17 kg per plot and 9687 kg per hectare.