GROWTH, YIELD AND QUALITY PERFORMANCE OF SUMMER TOMATO ON DIFFERENT GROWING MEDIA IN SOILLESS CULTURE

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.