MSc

The present study on “Standardization of hydroponics in tomato” was
carried out in the Department of Olericulture, College of Horticulture,
Vellanikkara, during 2015 September to 2016 January, to standardize the
nutrients, methods and growing media for the hydroponic cultivation of tomato in
rain shelter. The experiment was laid out in CRD with a total of 13 treatments
comprising of two hydroponic methods: a) Deep Flow Technique, b) Ebb and
Flow Technique; two nutrient solutions: a) Cooper’s solution, b) Hoagland’s
solution and three growing media: a) coco peat, b) expanded clay pellets, c)
pebbles and a control where the plants were grown in soil with POP
recommendations.
Plants in soil with POP recommendations showed superiority for plant
height, days to first flower appearance, days to first fruit set, days to first harvest,
fruits per plant, duration of the crop, number of harvests, yield per plant, and
average fruit weight over the hydroponic treatments. The NPK content in plant
parts were higher for plants grown in soil. The benefit cost ratio was also the
highest (1.92) in control treatment.
Among the hydroponic treatments, F2S1M1, (a combination of Ebb and Flow
Technique, Cooper’s solution and coco peat) was the best with respect to growth,
yield per plant (1.67 kg) and benefit cost ratio (1.33). There was only a reduction
of 19.71 per cent in yield for this treatment when compared to plants grown in
soil.
Under Deep Flow Technique in a unit area of 1m², 14 plants were
accommodated, whereas in control there were only 9 plants. When yield per unit
area was considered, F1S1M1 (a combination of Deep Flow Technique, Cooper’s
solution and coco peat) was the best (18.48 kg), and this was on par with the
plants grown in soil (18.72kg). The quality parameters (TSS and acidity) were
influenced by the hydroponic methods. The TSS of fruit was higher and acidity
was lower under hydroponics compared to soil.
The influence of nutrient solutions on the growth and yield parameters of
tomato plants were significant. Out of the two nutrient solutions tested, Cooper’s
solution was significantly better.
The growth and yield parameters were significantly influenced by the
growing media and were the best in coco peat medium, followed by pebbles. This
may be because of the high nutrient content in coco peat (N- 0.32%, P- 0.01%, K-
0.36 %). In expanded clay pellets, plants were less vigorous.
Diseases were totally absent and only stray incidence of insect pests like
serpentine leaf miners, mealy bugs and plant hoppers were noticed during the
course of the experiment. Biocontrol measures were employed as and when the
incidence was observed.
Though limitations have been experienced as the first experiment of its kind,
hydroponics can be practiced in Kerala by adopting cost effective and locally
available growing media, since there is space constraint for conventional
cultivation