MSc

The study titled “Organic nutrient scheduling in wicking bed system for tomato
(Solanum lycopersicum (L.)) in homesteads” was conducted at College of Agriculture,
Vellayani during 2020-2022 with the objectives to standardize the organic nutrient
schedule for tomato under wicking bed system in homesteads and to work out the
economics.
The study was carried out from February to May 2022 in farmer’s field at
Chemmaruthy panchayath in the Varkala block of Thiruvananthapuram district. A pot
culture experiment was laid out in completely randomized design with three
replications. The treatments were T1: soil application (SA) of cow’s urine + foliar
application (FA) of moringa leaf extract (MLE) at 4%, T2: SA of cow’s urine + FA of
vermiwash at 3%, T3: SA of cow’s urine + FA of panchagavya at 3%, T4: SA of cow’s
urine + FA of water spray, T5: SA of vermiwash + FA of MLE at 4%, T6: SA of
vermiwash + FA of vermiwash at 3%, T7: SA of vermiwash + FA of panchagavya at
3%, T8: SA of vermiwash + FA of water spray. Soil application of liquid manures viz.,
cow’s urine (1:10 v/v) , and vermiwash ( 1:8 v/v) was done at weekly intervals. Foliar
application of MLE, vermiwash, panchagavya and water was done at 20, 40 and 60
DAT. Irrigation was provided through wicking bed (coconut shell wicking bed
(150mm) + geo textile inter liner + soil bed (300mm)) to all treatments. Soil bed
comprised soil, coir pith compost and FYM (2:1:1) and basal application of nutrients
was provided as per POP (organic). The test variety of tomato was Vellayani Vijay.
The growth attributes viz., plant height , primary branches per plant, stem girth,
leaf area were influenced by treatments. At 60, 90 DAT and at harvest, taller plants
(101.35 cm, 113.53 cm and 117.17 cm, respectively) were observed with SA of
vermiwash + FA of panchagavya at 3% (T7 ) which was on par with T3. At harvest,
more number of branches were recorded in T6 which was on par with T7 and T5. Soil
application of vermiwash along with FA of vermiwash or panchagavya showed
significantly higher leaf area and stem girth. Soil application of vermiwash or cow’s
urine along with FA of panchagavya produced more dry matter per plant at harvest. Soil
application of vermiwash with foliar spray of panchagavya at 3 per cent produced
significantly higher root weight and root volume.
Soil application of vermiwash + FA of panchagavya at 3% (T7) took lesser
duration (33 days) to reach 50 per cent flowering and was on par with T3 and T6 . Soil
application of vermiwash or cow’s urine with FA of panchagvya produced more flowers
per cluster. Higher number of fruits per truss (6.5) was observed in T7 which was on
par with T6, T3 and T2. Fruit length was also significantly higher with SA of vermiwash
or cow’s urine along with FA of panchagavya or vermiwash. Significantly higher fruit
weight (39.33 g) was recorded in T6 which was comparable with T7. Soil application of
cow’s urine with FA of MLE, vermiwash and panchagavya increased the yield of
tomato by 19.5, 28.4 and 35.9 per cent, respectively over water spray; whereas SA of
vermiwash with the above liquid manures increased the yield of tomato by 10.9, 20.9
and 36.8 per cent, respectively.
Soil application of vermiwash or cow’s urine with FA of panchagvya recorded
higher ascorbic acid content (23.78 and 23.59 mg per 100g fruit), respectively. The TSS
content of fruits were higher in SA of vermiwash or cow’s urine with FA of
panchagavya or vermiwash.
The soil dehydrogenase activity, pH, EC, available N,P, K, B and Zn were
observed to increase after the experiment. The plant uptake of N,P and K were also
influenced by treatments. N and K uptake were higher in SA of vermiwash with FA of
panchagavya (T7) which was comparable with T3. P uptake was also higher in T3.
Higher water use efficiency (70.76 kg ha-1mm-1
) was observed in T7 . Water
requirement was observed to be lower (484.26 mm) in T1 and was higher (507.16 mm)
in T4. Soil application of vermiwash or cow’s urine with FA of panchagavya (T7 and
T3) recorded higher net income of ₹ 23 and ₹ 20 per plant and BCR of 1.46 and 1.40,
respectively.
Basal application of enriched farmyard manure (0.9 kg) + rock phosphate (8 g)
+ potassium sulphate (2.5 g) per plant supplemented with soil application of 300 mL
each of vermiwash ( 1:8 v/v) or cow’s urine (1:10 v/v) at weekly intervals along with
foliar application of panchagavya 3% at 20, 40 and 60 DAT could be recommended for
enhanced productivity and profitability of tomato in homesteads under wicking bed
system

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