effect of nitrogen and potassium on growth, economical yield and yield ...

Sarhad J. Agric. Vol.27, No.4, 2011

EFFECT OF NITROGEN AND POTASSIUM ON GROWTH, ECONOMICAL YIELD AND YIELD COMPONENTS OF TOMATO MUHAMMAD IQBAL*, MUHAMMAD NIAMATULLAH*, ISHFAQ YOUSAF*, MUHAMMAD MUNIR* and MUHAMMAD ZAFARULLAH KHAN** * **

Faculty of Agriculture, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan – Pakistan. Department of Agricultural Extension Education & Communication, Agricultural University Peshawar – Pakistan

ABSTRACT Investigations were undertaken to study the effect of N and K doses (60, 90 and 120kg ha-1 N and 90kg, 110kg, 130kg of K) on growth, economical yield and yield components of tomato under the agro-climatic conditions of Swat. The parameters selected under study i.e plant height at flowering stage, days to flowering, days to maturity, number of primary branches per plant, fruit length, fruit width, number of fruits per plant and total yield were significantly affected by the applications of N and K. The maximum days to flowering (52) in 00kg N and 110kg of K, maximum days to maturity (85.67) were taken when was obtained with the application of 120kg N and 130kg ha1 of K was applied. Maximum fruit length (5.96cm) was noted in 00kg of N and 130kg/N of K, while maximum fruit diameter (5.08cm) was noted when plants received 120kg N and 90kg K. in treatment 14 (120kg N and 90kg ha-1 of K), Economical yield (19 ton ha-1) was obtained with 60kgN and 130kg ha-1 of K. Key Words:

Tomato, Nitrogen, Potassium, Plant growth and development, Yield components

Citation: Iqbal, M., M. Niamatullah, I. Yousaf, M. Munir and M. Z. Khan. 2011. Effect of nitrogen and potassium on growth, economical yield and yield components of tomato. Sarhad J. Agric. 27(4): 545-548 INTRODUCTION Tomoto (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) is one of the most important vegetable worldwide. In accordance to Tomato News Issue of Dossier, Anonymous, (Anonymous, 2011), about 150 million tones of tomato are produced each year all over the world, of which 40 million as tomato products (tomato paste, peeled or unpeeled, whole or chopped tomatoes). As it is a relatively short duration crop and gives high yield, so it is economically attractive and the area under cultivation is increasing daily all over the world. Tomato is rich in minerals, vitamins, essential amino acids, sugars and dietary fibers. It contains much vitamin B and C, iron, lycopene and phosphorus (Bagal et al., 1989). They can be processed into purees, juices and ketchup. Canned and dried tomatoes are economically important processed products. Tomato is not resistant to drought and its economical yield decline considerably after short period of water deficiency. It is important to water the plants regularly, especially during flowering and fruit formation. The amount of water that is needed depends on the type of soil and on the weather (amount of rain, humidity and temperature). Tomato is an annual plant, which can reach a height of over two meters. In South America, however, the similar plants can be harvested for many years in succession. The first harvest is possible 45-55 days after flowering, or 90-120 days after sowing. Majumdar et al. (2000) supported in their findings that the shape of the fruit differs per cultivar. The colour ranges from yellow to red. In Pakistan its average yield is low as compared to other countries of the world (Hossain and Mizoguchi, 1999). The average yield depends upon certain production factors, amongst them appropriate and balanced nutrition plays an important role (Qasem and Hill, 1993). Fertilizers application is one of the most important factors for obtaining economical yield of tomato. Nitrogen and potassium play an important role in the plant growth and development. Tomato especially needs phosphorus after transplanting. It is better to apply nitrogen and potash during the growing stage of crop. In the tropics, the application of chemical fertilizers ranges between 40-120kg/ha of nitrogen, 3090kg/ha phosphate and 30-90kg/ha potash (Arya et al., 1999; Ahmed and Butt, 1999; Cook and Sanders, 1991, Wijewardena and Amerasiri, 1997 and Pathasarathy et al., 2002). Keeping in view the importance of nitrogen and potassium fertilizer application, the present research was conducted to observe the response of different levels of N and K on growth and yield of tomato under the agro-climatic conditions of Swat.

MATERIALS AND METHODS The experiment on the effect of different doses of nitrogen and potassium on growth, yield and yield components of tomato (Rio grand variety) was conducted at Agricultural Research Station (North), Mingora, Swat, Pakistan in 2008. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 16 treatments and 3 replications. Nursery was sown on 21st April, 2008. Plant to plant and row to row distance was kept 50cm. The nursery was ready for transplanting after one month, which was transplanted on 22nd May, 2008. At time of

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transplanting, maximum height of seedling was 10cm, while the minimum seedling height was 6 cm. Nitrogen was applied in the form of urea while potassium source was sulphat of potash (SOP). The following parameters were studied: Plant Height at Flowering Stage Plant height was selected randomly in each treatment. Plant height was taken with the help of measuring tape at the time of flowering and mean plant height was calculated. Days to Maturity Three plants were selected randomly in each treatment, the total days from fruit set to maturity and mean was calculated. Number of Branches Plant-1 Three plants were selected randomly in each treatment, their primary branches and mean was calculated. Number of Fruits Plant-1 Three plants were selected randomly from each treatment, at every picking the total number of fruits picked were counted and then the total number of fruits/ plant were counted and then mean was calculated. Fruit Length Twenty fruits were selected randomly from each treatment and the length of the fruit was measured with the help of vernier caliper and mean length was calculated. Fruit Diameter Twenty fruits were selected randomly from each treatment and diameter was measured with the help of vernier caliper and mean was calculated. Days to Flowering The days were counted from transplantation to appearance of 50% flowers and the mean was calculated. Total Yield Total yield for each treatment were weighted and the mean was calculated. Statistical Analysis Computer software (MSTATC) was used to analyze the data and LSD test was applied to check the least significance difference among treatment mean (Steel and Torrie, 1980). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Days to Flowering According to data shown in Table I, the days to flowering is found significantly different, where maximum days were taken by treatment 3 having 52.00 days to flowering on 0 kg nitrogen and 110 kg potash per hectare. Date formulated in Table I indicates that maximum days to flowering was 52.00 obtained in T3 followed by 51.00, 51.00, 49.00, 47.00 and 46.00. While minimum results were observed in treatment T4 having 40.00 days to flowering, the rest of the treatments has shown intermediate results among them. Maximum days to flowering (51.00 and 52.00) were taken by plots which received no nitrogen fertilizer and medium dose of potassium. It can be contributed to the fact that N is an integral part of plant growth, while flowering or time to flower is controlled by photoperiod (light), low temperature, or GA3. The Sn gene in tomato behaves just like FT gene in Arabidopsis or CEN gene in Antirhinum. Therefore, optimum N (and K as well) can play role to take a plant to a level of apex maturity where a plant can understand a discrete signal (gene) from leaf to change its fate (phase change). The results are against with Ahmed and Butt who reported that increased application of N in higher days to flowering.

Days to Maturity The findings regarding days to maturity is also found significantly different as shown in Table I, where maximum days to maturity was observed in treatment T16 having 86.00 days, 120 kg and 130 kg per hectare. Maximum days to maturity was observed in T16 (86.00) followed by 83.00, 83.00, 83.00, 82.00 and 81.00, while the minimum value was observed in treatment 12 having result of 77.00 days. The rest of treatments have shown intermediate results among them, which are in line with previous study conducted by Rozek et al. (1990). Number of Branches per Plant Table I also revealed the data findings with regards to number of branches per plant, which was found highly significant having maximum number of branches in treatment T5 (4.667) followed by 4.667, 4.667, 4.667,

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4.333 and 4.333. The minimum value was observed in T3 having 2.667 branches, while rest of the treatments show intermediate result among them. Number of Fruit per Plant Table I also indicated the number of fruits per plant, which was found highly significant, in which maximum fruits per plant were observed in treatment T6 (36.33) followed by 35.33, 35.33, 35.00, 35.00 and 35.00, where as the minimum value was observed in treatment T16 having 30.67 fruits per plant. The maximum number of fruits was produced by the plots receiving high level of K and low level of N. The results are in agreement with Arya et al. (1999) and Ahmed and Butt (1999), reported that number of fruits per plant, were increased with increase in N level and also with Wijewardena and Amerasiri (1997) who reported that fruits per plant increases with increase in potash level. Table I Mean data regarding days to flowering, days to maturity, number of branches Plant-1, number of fruits Plant-1 and plant height at flowering stage (cm) N:K Levels (kg ha-1) Control T1 T2 00:90 T3 00:110 T4 00:130 T5 60:00 T6 60:90 T7 60:110 T8 60:130 T9 90:00 T10 90:90 T11 90:110 T12 90:130 T13 120:00 T14 120:00 T15 120:110 T16 120:130 Coefficient of Variation LSD value at 0.05 level of significance

Days to Flowering 43.00 def 51.00 a 52.00 a 40.00 f 42.00 ef 45.00 de 49.00 abc 44.00 def 41.00 f 47.00 bcd 46.00 cde 44.00 def 46.00 cde 42.00 ef 46.00 cde 51.00 ab 5.49% 4.163

Days to Maturity 83.00 ab 80.00 ncdef 81.00 bcd 80.00 bcdef 82.00 abc 80.00 bcdef 77.00 f 77.00 ef 80.00 bcdef 81.00 bcdef 79.00 cdef 77.00 f 78.00 def 83.00 ab 83.00 abc 86.00 a 13.15% 4.218

Number of branches Plant-1 2.667 c 3.667 abc 2.667 c 4.667 a 4.667 a 4.667 a 3.667 abc 4.667 a 4.333 ab 4.333 ab 4.000 ab 4.333 bc 2.667 c 3.667 abc 4.333 ab 4.000 ab 15.77% 4.000 ab

Number of fruits Plant-1 33.00 abcd 31.00 e 35.00 abcd 35.33 ab 31.33 de 36.33 a 35.33 ab 35.00 abc 31.67 cde 34.67 abcd 32.33 bcde 35.00 abc 33.00 abcde 33.00 abcde 32.00 bcde 30.60 e 6.08% 3.387

Plant height at flowering stage (cm)

68.33 abcd 75.33 a 60.67 def 73.67 ab 63.33 cdef 72.67 ab 74.67 ab 73.67 ab 68.33 abcd 65.67 bcdef 67.00 abcde 71.67 abc 61.67 def 57.00 f 68.33 abcd 58.67 ef 8.18% 9.216

Plant Height Table I also evidenced the availability of data regarding plant height at flowering stage (cm) also indicated significant result. Plant height at flowering stage was obtained in an order of T2 (75.33) followed by 74.67, 73.67, 73.67, 72.67 and 71.67, while the minimum height was observed in T4 having 57.00 cm. Fruit Length Table II shows the date regarding fruit length (cm), which was observed highly significant. The maximum fruit length was observed in treatment 4 having 5.967 cm on o kg nitrogen and 130 kg potash per hectare, where as the treatments 3, 10, 14,7,11, 5, 8 and 6 having maximum fruit lengths of 5.900cm, 5.833 cm, 5.767 cm, 5.667 cm, 5.600cm and 5.567 cm and 5.433 cm respectively. The minimum fruit length was obtained in treatment 13 having 4.767 cm. The higher fruit length was obtained by the plants which received on N, it may be due to the reason that the soil already having proper level of N. Fruit Diameter Table II indicated the results of fruit diameter (cm), which was found significantly different, where maximum fruit diameter was observed in T14 (5.807 cm) having 120kg nitrogen and 90 kg potash per hectare, followed by T13, T12, T15, T10, T9, T16 and T5 having results of 5.797, 5.640, 5.587, 5.577, 5.533, 5.477 and 5.317 cm, respectively. The minimum value was obtained in treatment T1 having fruit diameter of 4.553 cm. Total Yield Table II also provide the total yield of tomato, which was found significantly different as well. Economical yield was obtained in T8 having 19.00 t h-1 on 60kg nitrogen and 130 kg potash per hectare. The treatments having economical yield were in an order of T14, T15, T9, T2, T13, T5, T12 and T1 having 15.33 t h-1, 18.00 t h-1, 17.33 t h-1, 17.00 t h-1, 16.67 t h-1, 16.33 t h-1 and 15.67 tones per hectare, respectively. The economical yield of tomato was

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obtained by plots receiving low amount of N and high level of K. It may be due to reason that K has increased the foliage and indirectly increased the photosynthesis and thus ultimately increased the yield of tomato, which are supported by past studies undertaken by Majumdar et al. (2000); Kooner and Randhawa (1990); Bagal et al. (1989). Table II

Mean data regarding fruit length (cm), fruit diameter (cm) and total yield (t ha-1)

N:K Levels (kg ha-1) Control T1 T2 00:90 T3 00:110 T4 00:130 T5 60:00 T6 60:90 T7 60:110 T8 60:130 T9 90:00 T10 90:90 T11 90:110 T12 90:130 T13 120:00 T14 120:00 T15 120:110 T16 120:130 Coefficient of Variation LSD value at 0.05 level of significance

Fruit length (cm) 4.833 de 5.167 bcde 5.900 ab 5.967 a 5.600 abc 5.433 abcde 5.667 abc 5.567 abcd 5.367 abcde 5.833 ab 5.633 abc 4.967 cde 4.767 e 5.767 ab 5.367 absde 5.000 cde 8.44% 0.7641

Fruit diameter (cm) 4.553 e 5.053 cde 5.087 bcde 5.277 abcd 5.317 abcd 5.120 bcde 5.150 bcd 4.963 de 5.533 abcd 5.577 abc 5.477 abcd 5.640 ab 5.797 a 5.807 a 5.587 abc 5.387 abcd 6.51% 0.58

Total yield (t/ha) 15.67 cdefgh 17.00 abcde 15.33 defgh 12.67 i 16.33 bcdefg 14.33 fghi 14.00 ghi 19.00 a 17.33 abcd 15.00 defghi 13.67 hi 16.33 bcdefg 16.67 abcdef 18.33 ab 18.00 abc 14.67 efghi 9.53% 2.525

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS It is concluded from the present findings that tomato cultivar Rio Grand produced maximum fruit size, early days to flowering and maturity and economical yield per hectare when received 60 kg ha-1 N and 130 kg ha-1 K under the agro climatic conditions of Swat. Therefore, this dose is recommended to the growers of this or similar agro-climatic regions.

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