03. Response of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cultivars to nitrogen levels
Abstract
The influence of nitrogen levels on tomato cultivars was evaluated at New Developmental Farm (NDF), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Agricultural University Peshawar in summer, 2011. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block (RCBD) with split plot arrangement. There were two factors i.e. nitrogen levels (0,100,150 and 200 kg ha-1) which were allotted to main plots and tomato cultivars (Roma, Roma VF, Super classic, Bambino and Riogrand) assigned to sub plots. A total of twenty treatments were replicated thrice. Maximum days to flowering (44.53 days), days to fruiting (50.13 days) and fruit width (5.02 cm) was obtained when nitrogen was applied at 200 kg ha-1. The tallest plants (63.09 cm), number of branches (6.73), maximum number of fruits (25.53), fruit length (5.97 cm) and yield (27.54 t ha-1) was produced by the plots fertilized with 150 kg N ha-1, while minimum days to flowering (37.93 days), days to fruiting (44.67), number of fruits (21.82), fruit width (4.45 cm) and yield (21.50 t ha-1) were obtained from control plots. Maximum days to flowering (43.33 days) were taken by cultivar Bambino whereas, minimum (39.75 days) were taken by cultivar Riogrand. Similarly in case of cultivars, Bambino cultivar produced longer fruit (6.04 cm) while Roma VF produced smaller fruit (5.27 cm). Maximum fruit yield (29.65 t ha-1) was produced by Riogrand whereas; poor yield (19.24 t ha-1) was produced by Roma. Maximum number of fruit plant-1 (27.61) was produced by Riogrand whereas; minimum (18.76) was produced by Roma VF. Among the various treatments studied in the experiment, it is suggested that Riogrand with the application of 150 kg N ha-1 can be used in Peshawar valley for better growth and yield of tomato.
Keywords: Cultivars; Tomato; Nitrogen; Yield
