Abstract:
A pot experiment was conducted at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka
during the period from January to September 2021, to investigate the effect of growing
media on growth, yield and quality of different summer tomato cultivars in hydroponic
culture. The experiment consisted of two factors, and followed completely randomized
design (CRD) with three replications. Factor A: Four tomato cultivars viz; V
1 =
BARI
Hybrid Tomato-4 ,V
2
= BARI Hybrid Tomato-8,V
3 =
BARI Tomato-10
,
= BARI
Tomato-13, Factor B: Four types of growing substrate mixtures, viz. M
1
= 60% coconut
coir + 30% khoa + 10% vermicompost , M
2
= 60% rice husk + 30% coconut coir +
10% vermicompost , M
3
= 60% sawdust + 30% khoa + 10% vermicompost , and M
4
= 60% ash + 30% khoa + 10% vermicompost. This experiment examined the
physicochemical attributes of various combinations of growing media, as well as the
growth, production, and physiological qualities of different varieties of summer tomato.
The highest pH (7.92) was found in M
4
which was not suitable for summer tomato
production while suitable pH (6.10) was found in M
1
. Water holding capacity, air filled
porosity and dry weights of substrate mixtures were higher in M
1
V
4
and lower in M
3
. The
highest number of fruits plant
-1
(32.25), fruit polar length (4.53 cm), fruit radial length
(4.3 cm), individual fruit fresh weight (79.46 g), individual fruit dry weight of tomato
(5.01 g) and yield plant
-1
(2.58 kg) was found in (M
1
) based growing substrate. In case
of different tomato cultivars the highest yield plant
-1
(2.52 kg) was found in BARI
Hybrid Tomato-8 cultivar (V
2
). In case of combination, the highest fruit plant
(39.5),
fruit polar length (5.01 cm), fruit radial length (4.7 cm), individual fruit fresh weight
(92.28 g), fruit dry weight (6.23 g), yield plant
-1
(3.59 kg) and fruit volume (475.39 cc)
was found in M
1
V
2
. Based on the evidence, it can be concluded that BARI Hybrid
Tomato-8 cultivar is suitable for cultivation in M
1
media, a mixture of 60% coconut
coir, 30% khoa and 10% vermicompost and can result in higher yield and better quality
tomato in hydroponic culture.
Description:
A Thesis
Submitted to Department of Entomology,
Faculty of Agriculture.
Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University,
Dhaka-
In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
MASTERS OF SCIENCE (MS)
IN
DEPARTMENT OF HORTICULTURE
