THE ASIAN JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE

AJH
eISSN- 0976-724X
Volume 9 | Issue 2 | Dec., 2014 | 297-300
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RESEARCH PAPER DOI : 10.15740/HAS/TAJH/9.2/297-300

Article history :
Received : 06.06.2014
Revised : 18.09.2014
Effect of foliar application of micronutrients in
Accepted : 04.10.2014
tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cv.
GUJARAT TOMATO-2

S.N. SARAVAIYA1, S.S. WAKCHAURE1, P.B. JADHAV, G.S. TEKALE1, N.B.

Members of the Research Forum
Associated Authors:
1
Department of Vegetable Science,
ACHF, Navsari Agriculture
University, NAVSARI (GUJARAT)
INDIA
2
ASPEE, Agricultural Research and
Development Foundation, Malad (W),
MUMBAI (M.S.) INDIA
Author for correspondence :
P.B. JADHAV
ASPEE, Agricultural Research and
Development Foundation, Malad (W),
MUMBAI (M.S.) INDIA
Email :
tropicalsubtropical@gmail.com
PATIL2 AND S.S. DEKHANE2
ABSTRACT : The present investigation was undertaken with the main objective to study the effect of
foliar application of micronutrients in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cv. GUJARAT TOMATO-2
at ASPEE, ARDF, Tansa farm during Rabi season 2012-2013. The experiment consisted of eight
treatments viz., T 1 [RD NPK through chemical fertilizers N: P2O5 : K2 O5 kg ha-1 (75 : 37.5 : 62.5)], T2
(T 1+ 100 ppm B; i.e. boric acid 0.571 g l-1), T3 (T 1+100 ppm Zn; i.e. zinc sulphate 0.246 g l-1), T4 (T 1 +
100 ppm Cu; i.e. copper sulphate 0.420 g l-1), T5 (T1+100 ppm Fe; i.e. ferrous sulphate 0.515 g l-1), T6
(T 1 +100 ppm Mn; i.e. manganese sulphate 0.320 g l-1), and T7 (T1 + mixture of all micronutrients) and
T8 (T 1 + multiplex 4 ml l-1) by mixing with simple water were imposed. The foliar application was
made by using equipment knapsack sprayer in the evening hours. The thrice times foliar spray were
made at 10 days interval starting from 40 days after transplanting seedling. The data clearly showed
that the yield obtained with treatment T7 had significantly maximum plant height (131.73 cm), number
of branches plant-1 (5.81), fresh weight of plants (25.65 t ha-1), dry matter yield of plants (7670.03 kg
ha-1), maximum days to last picking (166.68), number of fruits plant-1 (34.26), fruit length (5.52 cm),
fruit diameter (4.64 cm), fruit volume (67.53 cm3), single fruit weight (49.20 g), fruit weight plant-1
(1.68 kg), number of locules fruit-1 (3.03), pericarp thickness (6.23 mm), fruit yield ha-1 (46.78 t) and
marketable fruit yield ha-1 (45.62 t). This treatment had maximum net return (1, 66,757 Rs./ ha) and
B:C Ratio 2.72 : 1 out all other treatments than over control.
KEY WORDS : Micronutrient, Tomato, GT-2
HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE : Saravaiya, S.N., Wakchaure, S.S., Jadhav, P.B., Tekale, G.S., Patil, N.B. and Dekhane,
S.S. (2014). Effect of foliar application of micronutrients in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cv. GUJARAT
TOMATO-2. Asian J. Hort., 9(2) : 297-300.

T
omato (Lycopersicon esculentum Miller, 2n = 2x =
24), popularly known as wolf apple, love of apple or
Vilayati baingan is one of the most important vegetable
crop, belongs to family Solanaceae, originated in tropical
America and was introduced in India by the Portuguese. It is
a leading vegetable crop grown across the length and breadth
of country due to its wide adaptability of various agro-climatic
conditions. It is equally liked by both poor and rich and is
quite high in nutritive value.
Micronutrients are not only essential for better growth,
yield and quality but also important like other major nutrients
in spite of their requirement in micro quantity. These also
helps in uptake of major nutrients and also vital to the growth
of plants acting as catalyst in promoting various organic
reaction from cell development to respiration, photosynthesis,
chlorophyll formation, enzyme activity, hormones synthesis
and nitrogen fixation. Considerable research work has been
done on the aspect of foliar application of micronutrient in
different crops and the experimental results indicated not
only increase in yield up to 20 per cent but also helpful to
sustain crop production. Arora et al. (1979) reported that
micronutrients like boron, copper, molybdenum and zinc
through foliage can also improve the vegetative growth, fruit
set and yield of tomato. Working with tomato, Mallick and
Muthukrishnan (1980) reported that the role of micronutrients
in the “nutrient element balance” of the plant is of

HIND AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTITUTE

 S.N. SARAVAIYA, S.S. WAKCHAURE, P.B. JADHAV, G.S. TEKALE, N.B. PATIL AND S.S. DEKHANE

considerable interest.

RESEARCH METHODS
The investigation was carried out at American Spring
Pressing Works, Pvt. Ltd. (ASPEE), Agricultural Research
Development Foundation (ARDF), TANSA Farm during the
year Rabi 2012-13. In all eight treatments viz., T1 (RD NPK
through chemical fertilizers 75 : 37.5 : 62.5); T2 (T1+ 100
ppm B); T3 (T1+100 ppm Zn); T4 (T1 + 100 ppm Cu); T5
(T1+100 ppm Fe); T6 (T1 +100 ppm Mn); T7 (T1 + mixture of
all micronutrients) and T8 (T1 + multiplex 4 ml l-1) were
evaluated in a Randomized Block Design with five
replications. The tomato cv. GT-2 seedlings nursery was raised
at 15 cm x 7 cm distance in a plot size 3 x 1 m and
transplanted in plot size 4.2 m x 3.6 m. All agronomical
practices in virgue were employed from time to time. The Fig. 1 : View of tomato fruits of different treatments
statistical analysis was done by using method of Panse and
Sukhatne (1967). maximum net realization of Rs. 1,66,757.00 ha-1 and B:C
ratio of 2.72:1 over all other treatments at the end of
RESEARCH FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION experiment (Table 3). These findings are in conformity with
The data clearly indicated that the growth and yield of the results of Bhatt et al. (2004) and Patil et al. (2008), who
crop obtained with treatment T 7 (T 1 + mixture of all obtained maximum benefit: cost ratio with foliar application
micronutrient) three times foliar spray at 10 days interval of mixture of all micronutrients.
starting from 40 days after transplanting seedling) showed The T8 (T1 + (Zn 3 %, Mn 1%, B 0.5% and Fe 2%
significantly higher plant height (131.73 cm), number of multiplex 4 ml/lit. of simple water) foliar thrice times spray at
branches plant-1 (5.81), fresh weight of plants ha-1 (25.65 t), 10 days interval starting from 40 days after transplanting
dry matter yield of plant ha -1 (7670.03 kg), maximum seedling) had positive effects next to T7 consisting of the
harvesting period of days to last picking (166.68), number combination of inorganic fertilizer plus mixture of all
of fruits plant-1 (34.26), fruit length (5.52 cm) (Plate 1), fruit micronutrients produced higher plant height (129.88 cm),
diameter (4.64 cm), fruit volume (67.53 cm3), single fruit number of branches plant-1 (5.73), fresh weight of plants ha-1
weight (49.20 g), fruit weight plant-1 (1.68 kg), pericarp (24.60 t), dry matter yield of plant ha-1 (7627.25 kg), minimum
thickness (6.23 mm), fruit yield ha-1 (46.78 t) and marketable days to first picking of fruits (73.26), maximum harvesting
fruit yield ha-1 (45.62 t), respectively in Table 1 and 2. It had period of days to last picking of fruit (165.44), number of fruits

Table 1 : Effect of foliar application of micronutrients in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cv. GUJARAT TOMATO- 2
Days to 50 Plant height, Number of Fresh weight of Dry matter yield Days to first Days to last Number of
Treatments
(%) flowering cm branches plant-1 plant, t. ha-1 of plant, kg ha-1 picking of fruits picking of fruit fruits plant-1

T1 32.12 81.69 3.36 19.14 5958.17 90.44 143.57 22.44

T2 34.67 97.74 4.63 23.09 6757.51 81.38 156.46 31.01
T3 34.10 112.44 4.11 23.28 7301.61 80.59 162.50 31.06
T4 34.09 84.32 3.56 21.82 6577.28 86.64 146.99 25.63
T5 33.77 84.68 3.55 22.06 6679.59 83.25 151.86 26.25
T6 31.88 89.50 3.67 22.56 6868.19 82.52 154.24 29.64
T7 35.67 131.73 5.81 25.65 7670.03 75.26 166.68 34.26
T8 35.22 129.88 5.73 24.60 7627.25 73.26 165.44 33.23
S.E. ± 0.57 2.92 0.30 1.28 248.18 1.92 3.29 1.44
C.D. P=0.05 1.65** 8.45** 0.87** 3.72** 718.94** 5.55** 9.52** 4.18**
C.V. (%) 3.75 6.43 15.63 12.59 8.01 5.25 4.71 11.05
** indicates of significance of values at P=0.05, respectively

Asian J. Hort., 9(2) Dec., 2014 : 297-300 Hind Agricultural Research and Training Institute
298
 EFFECT OF FOLIAR APPLICATION OF MICRONUTRIENTS IN TOMATO

Asian J. Hort., 9(2) Dec., 2014 : 297-300 Hind Agricultural Research and Training Institute
299
 S.N. SARAVAIYA, S.S. WAKCHAURE, P.B. JADHAV, G.S. TEKALE, N.B. PATIL AND S.S. DEKHANE
plant-1 (33.23), fruit length (5.26 cm), fruit diameter (4.41 cm),
fruit volume (64.04 cm3), single fruit weight (43.20 g), fruit
weight plant-1 (1.43 kg), pericarp thickness (6.02 mm), fruit
yield ha-1 (39.80 t) and marketable fruit yield ha-1 (39.5 t) (Tables
1 and 2). It had maximum net realization of Rs. 1,39,293.00
ha-1 and B:C ratio of 2.39:1 (Table 3). These findings are similar
with the results of Bhatt et al. (2004) Govindan (1952); Bhatt
et al. (2004) and Patil et al. (2008), who obtained maximum
benefit: cost ratio with foliar application of mixture of all
micronutrients.
T h is m i ght be due to t h e en h a ncem en t i n
ph ot osynt h esi s, deposit i on of ph ot o a ssim i l a tes,
t r an sl oca t i on of ca r bohydr a tes, im pr ovem en t i n
physiological and other metabolic activity which led to
an increase in various plant metabolites responsible for
actively cell division and elongation results improvement
in growth characters (Hatwar et al., 2003). Increased yield
due to micronutrients application may be attributed to
enhanced photosynthetic activity, resulting into the
increased production and accumulation of carbohydrate
and favourable effect on vegetative growth and retention
of flower and fruits which might have increased number
of fruits per plant besides improvement in the fruit size.
The increase in dry matter production of fruits may be
attributed to greater accumulation of photosynthates by
vegetative parts and its subsequent translocation to the
sink. Also role of boron which enhance the movement of
sugar complex from the leaves to the fruit and ultimately
increased the fruit yield is according to result given by
Pandita et al. (1976); Bose and Tripathi (1996); Hood et al.
(1984); Kumbhar and Deshmukh (1993); Patnaik et al.
(2001) and Prabha and Singaram (1996) and Singh et al.
(2003).
Conclusion :
The foliar spray of T7 (T1 + mixture of all micronutrients)
was found much effective over control. It can be concluded
that the growth and yield attributes of tomato cv. GT-2 showed
positive results for spraying of T7 treatment (T1 + mixture of
all micronutrients) three times foliar spray at 10 days interval
starting from 40 days after transplanting seedling) followed
by T8 (T1 + multiplex 4 ml/lit. of simple water) treatment.
Acknowledgement :
The authors are grateful to Directors of ASPEE,
Agricultural Research and Development Foundation, Mumbai
for providing facilities for conducting the research work.

9Yearth
of Excellence
Asian J. Hort., 9(2) Dec., 2014 : 297-300
300
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Hind Agricultural Research and Training Institute