Effect of foliar application of water soluble fertilizer on growth, yield and quality attributes of tomato | IJAAR 2021

This research paper is written by Mr. M Irfan Ashraf, M Bilal Shaukat and Mr. Waqar Khalid from the Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan, Mr. Bakhatawar Liaqat, Shazia Kiran, Laraib Anam, and Mr. Zohaib Kaleem from the Department of Botany, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan, and Mr. M Abdullah from the Wheat Research Institute, AARI, Faisalabad, Pakistan. Lets get some knowledge about it.

Abstract

The tomato is the one of the most famous crops in Pakistan. It is used and consumed as fresh as well as in processed form. Its botanical name is Solanum lycopersicon Mill. The proposed study had been conducted in the year 2017-2018 in order to find the best combination of water soluble NPK fertilizers as compared to control. Five different types of water soluble fertilizers were collected from different sources and were applied at 5% concentration during the entire growing period of the tomato crop. The experiment was designed using Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with five treatments and three replications of each. Different vegetative, reproductive and bio-chemical parameters were recorded and analyzed statistically at 5% level of significance. The treatments were compared using LSD test. It was concluded that different NPK water soluble fertilizers showed variation in physical and bio chemical parameters in tomato plants as compared to control. The plants showed variation in plant height, No. of fruit per plant, fruit yield per hectare, Individual fruit weight, fruit weight per plant, No. of diseased fruit per plant, date of first harvest, Fruit color Fruit length (cm), fruit size (cm), fruit firmness, total NPK contents, vitamincmg Chlorophyll concentration, pH, (TSS), Electricity conductivity (EC) and Titratable acidity Among all the water soluble treatments, the T₃ treatment (WSF 20:20:20) yielded the comparatively better results as compared to other WSF treatments. So it was concluded that T₃ was the recommended water soluble fertilizer for tomato.

Introduction

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill.) is considered as domesticated plant of Western and South America (Ali et al., 2012). Tomato ranks second after the potato crop in family Solanaceae while ranks first in term of processed crop. It is an annual vegetable crop grown in summer season. Temperature of 25-280C is favorable temperature for its growth and development (Ejaz et al., 2011). In Pakistan, spring and autumn crops are cultivated twice a year (Naz et al., 2011). China, India, Turkey, Egypt, Italy and Iran are main producer of tomato crop (Ali et al., 2013). Tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum Mill.) is a rich source of vitamins as well as antioxidants. It does not form acid stones and possesses a great amount of citric acid but forms alkaline, when enters into bloodstream. It also works as a liver cleanser when used in green vegetable juices. 

About 11 million acres in the world are under cultivation of tomato. India and China contribute about 40 percent in global production of tomato. Its demand is increasing with growing population of the world. Currently, Pakistan is standing at the 30th position while the United States of America is at the 1st and China is at the 2nd rank. (GOP, 2015). In Pakistan per acre yield of tomato is very low as compared to the yield of the world. It currently produces 4.00 tons per acre while the global production of tomato is 43 tons per acre. The maximum yield has been achieved in Belgium which is 202 tons per acre. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicon Mill.) is an herbaceous plant. It is a very important cash crop for small as well as bourgeois farmers and cultivated on wide area all over the world. It is a good source of vitamins as well as minerals (GOP, 2015). On the globe, annual production of fresh tomato is accounted for about 159 million tons. While, about quarter of these 159 million tons is used for the processing industry, which makes this crop the world’s leading vegetable crop for processing. 

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicon Mill.) production in Pakistan was 530 thousand tones during the year 2015. The top 8 producing countries account for 74.2% of the world’s yearly production. Tomato crop enjoys a huge export potential owing to its need in the international market. Tomatoes are exported to a number of countries including Afghanistan, Iran, U.A.E, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka and India. Afghanistan as well as Iran and UAE are central market hubs for tomatoes’ export from Pakistan. Pakistan is capable of increasing its share in these markets (GOP, 2015). The area, production and average yield of tomato in Pakistan have been getting varied in different eras. Since the year 2000-01 to the year 2009-10, area under tomato crop has been expanded from 27.9 to 50 thousand hectares and yield has jumped from 268.8 tons to 476.8 thousand tons. The current national yield of tomato crop is based on ten year’s average (10.1 tons/ha) which is very low. To get high yield, vigorous yielding varieties and improved production technologies should have to be adopted. 

The Province Baluchistan is leading province in tomato cultivation annually with an average area of 18.1 thousand hectares followed by KPK and Sindh with area of 15.6 and 10.7 thousand hectares, respectively (GOP, 2016). Low quality and low production of tomato is due to unbalanced application of micro and macro nutrients. The main function of the nutrients is to help the synthesis of chlorophyll and to activate the process of photosynthesis. Micro and macro nutrients are required to tomato crop in specific dose for proper growth and development (Rub and Haq, 2012). To overcome this production deficiency an experiment was arranged to find out best dose of water soluble N, P and K fertilizer. So that the foliar application of soluble fertilizers NPK in different doses is needed to examine to attain a good crop establishment, growth, quality fruit production and healthy yield of tomato crop. It can be beneficial for earning high market price. Get the full articles by following the link Int. J. Agron. Agri. Res. 18(1), 10-18. January 2021.

Reference

Ali A, Hussain I, Gul H, Masoud S, Khan A, Wahab F, Khan J. 2015. Effect of different doses of foliar fertilizer on yield and physiochemical characteristics of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill.) cultivars under the agro climatic condition of Peshawar. International Journal of Biosciences 7(1), 58-65.

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Karpagam R, Kannan M, Natarajan S, Sriniva K. 2004. Studies on the efficacy of foliar feeding of water soluble fertilizers on growth parameters and yield of Brinjal hybrid COBH. Journal of Horticulture 52(6), 139-142.

Kumar U, Chandra G, Raghav M. 2017. Nitrogen management in potato for maximum tuber yield, quality and environmental conservation. Vegetable Science 44(2), 43-418.

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Narayanamma M, Chiranjeevi C, Reddy CS. 2006. Influence of water soluble fertilizers on yield of brinjal. Journal of vegetable sciences 33, 94-95.

Naz FI, Haq U, Asghar S, Shah AS, Rahman A. 2011. Studies on growth, yield and nutritional composition of different tomato cultivars in Battal Valley of district Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Sarhad Journal of Agriculture 27(4), 569-571.

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Takahashi N, Maki H, Nishina H, Takayama K. 2013. Evaluation of tomato fruit color change with different maturity stages and storage temperatures using image analysis. IFAC Proceedings 46(4), 147-149.

Effect of foliar application of water soluble fertilizer on growth, yield and quality attributes of tomato | IJAAR Journals from Innspub Net

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Effects of Azolla and inorganic nitrogen application on growth and yield of rice in mwea irrigation scheme | IJAAR 14(3), 1-8, March 2019.

By: WA Oyange, GN Chemining’wa, JI Kanya, PN Njiruh

"" IJAAR welcome all of you to submit your research paper for publication in the field of Agriculture, Agronomy, Horticulture etc. Please submit your manuscripts via Online submission panel.""

Use of inorganic fertilizers constitutes 20% of the rice production cost in Mwea. Azolla fern, which grows in Mwea Irrigation paddies, has the potential to supplement the nitrogen requirement, thus reducing the fertilizer costs. A field experiment was conducted in Mwea Irrigation Scheme during 2015 long and short rains to determine the effect of Azolla incorporation and inorganic nitrogen on growth and yield of rice.

The treatments comprised three nitrogen fertilizer levels (0, 30 and 60kg N ha^-1) and three Azolla biomass levels (0, 7.5 and 15tons ha^-1) laid out in a randomized complete block design with a split-plot arrangement. Data on plant height and number of tillers per plant were collected at 21, 35, 45, and 65 and 75 days after transplanting rice while yield and yield components were determined at 120 days after transplanting rice. Soil was analysed for N, P and K, before and after termination of the experiment. Data were subjected to analysis of variance using SAS and means separated using the least significant difference test at p ≤ 0.05. Azolla incorporation significantly increased residual soil phosphorus, grain weight, % grain filling and grain yield. Inorganic nitrogen significantly increased plant height, tiller numbers, neck node, and panicle length, number of panicle m^-2 and grain yield. Grain yield increase from Azolla treatment ranged from 5 to 42% compared to that of inorganic nitrogen which ranged from 18 to 36%. Application of 15t ha^-1 of Azolla biomass recorded the highest yield, however, it was not significantly different from that of 7.5t ha^-1. Get the full abstract at: Int. J. Agron. Agri. Res. 14(3), 1-8, March 2019.

International Journal of Agronomy and Agricultural Research - IJAAR is an open-access scholarly research journal, published by International Network for Natural Sciences. IJAAR publishes original scientific research articles in the field of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences. IJAAR published 2 Volume and 12 issue per the calendar year.

Citation Sample 

WA Oyange, GN Chemining’wa, JI Kanya, PN Njiruh.
Effects of Azolla and inorganic nitrogen application on growth and yield of rice in mwea irrigation scheme.
Int. J. Agron. Agri. Res. 14(3), 1-8, March 2019.
https://innspub.net/ijaar/effects-azolla-inorganic-nitrogen-application-growth-yield-rice-mwea-irrigation-scheme/

Referenc

Effects of Azolla and inorganic nitrogen application on growth and yield of rice in mwea irrigation scheme

Alim MA. 2012. Effect of organic and inorganic sources and doses of nitrogen fertilizer on the yield of Boro rice. Environmental Science and Natural Resources 5(1), 273- 282.

Awodun MA. 2008. Effect of Azolla on Physiochemical properties of the soil. World Journal of Agricultural Scieneces 4(2), 157-160.

Blumentha JM, Baltensperger DD, Cassman KG, Mason SC, Pavlista AD. 2008. Importance and effect of nitrogen on crop quality and health. Faculty Publications, Agronomy and Horticulture, p200.

Bocchi S, Malgioglio A. 2010. Azolla-Anabaena as a bio-fertilizer for rice paddy fields in the Po valley, a temperate rice area in northern Italy. International Journal of Agronomy 2010, 152-158.

Carrapiço F, Teixeira G, Diniz M. 2000. Azolla as a bio-fertiliser in Africa. A challenge for the future. Revista de Ciências Agrárias 23(3-4), 120-138.

Cheng-Wei L,  Yu S,  Bo-Ching C,  Hung-Yu  L. 2014. Effects of Nitrogen Fertilizers on the Growth and Nitrate Content of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) International Journal of Environmental research and Public Health, Vol 11 (4), 4427-40.

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Effects of inorganic nutrient P and N application on Azolla biomass growth and nutrient uptake | IJAAR

 By: WA Oyange, GN Chemining’wa, JI Kanya, PN Njiruh

"" IJAAR welcome all of you to submit your research paper for publication in the field of Agriculture, Agronomy, Horticulture etc. Please submit your manuscripts via Online submission panel.""

Rice farmers in Mwea Irrigation Scheme routinely apply P and N fertilizers which affect water nutrient levels. A study was conducted to establish the effects of nutrient N and P application on Azolla biomass accumulation. The study was conducted in a batch culture experiment, using 5g of fresh Azolla biomass samples from each of the six major paddy schemes namely: Mwea, Ahero, West Kano, Bunyala, TARDA, and Taveta.

Treatments consisted of 0 and 3mg P l^-1 and 0 and 200mg N l^-1, laid out in a randomized complete block design replicated three times.  Azolla samples were grown in batch culture plastic pots of 8.4 x 10^-3m³ for 10 days using canal water, which was replenished every three days. Fresh Azolla biomass weight was recorded at 0, 5 and 10 days after inoculation. Data was subjected to analysis of variance using SAS statistical package version 9.1 and means separated using the least significant difference test (p≤0.05). The pH levels in irrigation water averaged 7.2 while N, P and K levels were 20.2, 11.6 and 15ppm respectively. Tissue N and K for Azolla accession averaged 4.2% and 1.6% respectively. Biomass accumulation and doubling time of Azolla were significantly affected by exogenous P and N nutrient application. Doubling time ranged from 5.5 days to 6.7. Application N and P significantly reduced Azolla biomass accumulation and increased biomass doubling time.

 

Introduction

Azolla is a pteridophyte which forms a symbiotic association with a cyanobacterium-Anabaena azollae (Bocchi et al., 2010) and fixes nitrogen at a rate higher than legumes (Wagner, 1997). A study on Azolla has reported that Azolla contains 4.5% N, 0.4% P and 1.5- 3% K (Watanabe, 1989). In Mwea Irrigation Scheme, the existing species was found to contain 3.9% N, 0.44% P, and 1.08% K (unpublished). Azolla is capable of providing 40kg N ha-1 to the rice crop due to its nitrogen content which is released upon decomposition (Kannaiyan et al., 1982) reported that. This can reduce the cost of rice crop inorganic fertilizer, which constitutes 20% of rice production cost in Mwea Irrigation Scheme (Rice MAPP, 2012). In Mwea Irrigation Scheme, Azolla coverage is estimated at 30-50% during peak times and this is majorly dependent upon water availability (unpublished). Nutrient status and other environmental factors are major factors affecting Azolla biomass growth (Wagner, 1997). 

Extensive and intensive inorganic fertilizer use forms the primary source of the water nutrient status and eutrophication in water bodies (FAO/ECE, 1991). Depending on the levels, this can cause atmospheric, aquatic and ground water system pollution (Choudhury et al., 2005). Farmers in Mwea irrigation scheme apply estimated P and N fertilizer amounts of 58kg of P2O5 and 56kg of N per hectare respectively, based on recommendations by Wanjogu et al. (1997). These fertilizers applied contribute to the water nutrient status being conducive for Azolla growth. The nitrogen fixing ability of Azolla makes it able to grow in nitrogen deficient waters (Watanabe, 1979; Hussner, 2010). However, its growth is limited by the nutrient element P (Kitoh et al., 1993). Kondo et al. (1989) reported a maximum growth rate for Azolla under application of 3.1ppm P with a threshold limit of 0.5-0.6% P. 

The level of phosphorus in water bodies is varied and can be high due to fertilizer use and runoff. This can lead to Azolla blooms in paddies or flood waters. Depending on the water nutrient status, Azolla multiplies fast; doubling its biomass in less than 10 days and readily colonizes new areas (Campbell, 2011). Hussner (2010) reported a doubling rate of 3-10 days, while Kitoh (1993) reported a doubling rate of 2-3 days under laboratory conditions. The nutrient P is important for Azolla growth and reproduction (Sadeghi, 2012). Its deficiency has been shown to hinder the acetylene reduction activity (Tung et al., 1989). However, excess levels of nutrient P has been reported to have a negative effect on Azolla growth (Pitt et al., 2014). 

According to Rains et al. (1979), a P level of 0.34ppm is the lower threshold limit below which there is deficiency. Subudhi et al., (1981) reported that external P level of 5ppm is the higher threshold limit beyond which Azolla tissue N content is affected negatively. The nutrient N is important for Azolla growth but because of its N fixing ability, it is capable of growing in N free media (Hussner, 2010). External N has been shown to inhibit the activity of acetylene reductase activity (Yatazawa et al., 1980). Kitoh, 1991 showed that external ammonia N negatively affects Azolla growth and N fixation activity. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of P and N on Azolla biomass growth and tissue N and P uptake, in Mwea Irrigation Scheme. Get the full articles and pdf at: Int. J. Agron. Agri. Res. 14(2), 1-9, February 2019.

International Journal of Agronomy and Agricultural Research - IJAAR is an open-access scholarly research journal, published by International Network for Natural Sciences. IJAAR publishes original scientific research articles in the field of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences. IJAAR published 2 Volume and 12 issue per the calendar year.

Effects of inorganic nutrient P and N application on Azolla biomass by International Network For N... on Scribd

Citation Sample

WA Oyange, GN Chemining’wa, JI Kanya, PN Njiruh.
Effects of inorganic nutrient P and N application on Azolla biomass growth and nutrient uptake. Int. J. Agron. Agri. Res. 14(2), 1-9, February 2019.

Reference

Effects of inorganic nutrient P and N application on Azolla biomass growth and nutrient uptake

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Bocchi S, Malgioglio A. 2010. Azolla-anabaena as a bio-fertilizer for rice paddy fields in the Po valley, a temperate rice area in northern Italy. International Journal of Agronomy 2010, 152-158.

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Carrapiço F, Teixeira G, Diniz M. 2000. Azolla as a bio-fertiliser in Africa. A challenge for the future. Revista de Ciências Agrárias 23 (3-4), 120-138.

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Effect of application of Nitrogen and Potassium fertilizers on some vegetative and reproductive traits in Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) -IJAAR

• Shiva Ghasemi, Khadijeh Abbaszadeh, Mostafa Ghasemi*, Morteza Salari, Fatemeh
  Zarei

1. Department of Horticulture, Hormozgan University, Bandar Abbas, Iran

A pot experiment was carried out to examine the effect of application of nitrogen and potassium fertilizers on some vegetative and reproductive traits in Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa). Treatments were included control with no fertilizer (T1); 70 mg N per kg soil (T2); 50 mg K2O per kg soil (T3); and combination of T2 and T3 (T4) that applied on 30 day old seedlings.

In the end of experiment (30 days after flowering), the parameters stem height, stem diameter, number of leaves and flowers, flower diameter, calyx length, number of shoots, fresh and dry weight of organs and vitamin C were evaluated. The results showed that were significant differences in some parameters among applied treatments.

Treatments 3 and 4 showed no significant differences in studied parameters. Application of nitrogen fertilizer decreased the levels of vitamin C while potassium fertilizer and integrated use of N and K increased the levels of vitamin C.

The traits stem height, stem diameter, number of leaves, number of flowers, number of shoots, biomass of leaves and flowers were not significantly affected by fertilizer treatments. The highest flower diameter (2.63 cm), calyx length (2.91 cm) and flower dry weight (10.56g), were obtained at treatment of 50 mg K2O kg-1 soil. The results showed that the treatments K alone and combination of N with K were more efficient than either N or no fertilizer in improving traits of Roselle.

Journal Name: International Journal of Agronomy and Agricultural Research (IJAAR)

Publication Name: International Network For Natural Sciences (INNSPUB)

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