Efficiency of organic and inorganic fertilizers on growth, yield and quality of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

Introduction

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicumL.) belongs to the Solanaceae family and has a somatic chromosome number of 2n = 24. It is predominantly a self-pollinated crop with its primary centre of origin in the Peru-Ecuador belt of South America. Portuguese traders introduced the crop to India, where it has become one of the most important vegetables for both fresh consumption and industrial processing. The plant grows best between 10 °C and 30 °C, with an optimum range of 20-24 °C for vigorous vegetative growth, fruit set, and lycopene biosynthesis, the pigment responsible for the bright red colour of ripe fruits. Tomato is highly sensitive to frost and waterlogging and performs best in well-aerated, fertile soils with a pH of 6.0-7.0. Often described as a "protective food," tomato plays a vital role in human nutrition and provides livelihood security to many small and marginal farmers. On a fresh-weight basis, 100 g of edible portion contains about 94.1 g water, 1 g protein, 0.3 g fat, and 4 g carbohydrates. It is rich in ascorbic acid (vitamin C), provitamin A, thiamine (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2), and essential minerals such as potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, iron, zinc, manganese, and copper. The fruit also contains 2.5-4.5% total sugars, 0.6-1.2% starch, and health-promoting organic acids (citric, malic, and acetic). These bioactive compounds impart strong antioxidant properties that help combat oxidative stress. Globally, tomato is one of the leading vegetable crops, with annual production around 190 million tonnes. In India, horticultural production continues to expand, and tomato constitutes a significant portion of the vegetable basket. As per the final estimates for 2024-25, national tomato production reached approximately 20.60 million tonnes. Uttar Pradesh contributed around 0.94 million tonnes during the same period. www.extensionjournal.com However, intensive farming systems that rely heavily on chemical fertilizers have caused soil nutrient depletion, macro-and micronutrient imbalances, deterioration of soil biological health, and rising environmental concerns. These issues have shifted scientific focus toward Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) approaches. INM involves the judicious combination of organic manures, inorganic fertilizers, and microbial inoculants to ensure balanced nutrient supply, higher productivity, and long-term soil fertility restoration. Among organic amendments, vermicompost is valued for its readily available macro-and micronutrients, humic and fulvic acids, and naturally occurring plant growth regulators. Farmyard manure (FYM) is the most accessible traditional organic source that improves soil structure and waterholding capacity. Poultry manure provides concentrated nutrients with relatively fast mineralization rates, while neem cake supplies moderate amounts of N, P, and K along with natural pest-repellent properties due to its favourable carbon-to-nitrogen ratio. When these organic resources are integrated with reduced doses of chemical fertilizers, they help minimise dependence on synthetic inputs without compromising yield or quality. The present investigation was therefore undertaken to generate practical, environmentally sound, and economically viable nutrient management recommendations for tomato cultivation in the Middle Gangetic Plains of Uttar Pradesh and similar agro-ecological zones.

Research methodology

The experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Research Field, Rama University, Mandhana, Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh) during the rabi season of 2025-26. The soil was sandy loam in texture, slightly alkaline (pH 7.6-7.9), low in organic carbon (0.38-0.52%), and medium in available N (185-210 kg ha⁻¹), P (18-25 kg ha⁻¹), and K (210-245 kg ha⁻¹). The popular indeterminate tomato variety 'Pusa Ruby' was used. Seeds were sown on 5 October 2025 and 30-day-old seedlings were transplanted on 5 November 2025. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with eight treatments and three replications. Each plot measured 1.44 m² (1.2 m × 1.2 m) with 60 cm × 60 cm spacing (4 plants per plot). The recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) was 120:80:60 kg NPK ha⁻¹. Organic manures were applied on a nutrient-equivalent substitution basis as a basal dose. Inorganic fertilizers were applied in split doses (half N + full P and K as basal; remaining N at 30-40 DAT).

Treatments

Results and Discussion

The results clearly showed that integrated nutrient management through a balanced combination of inorganic fertilizers and organic manures significantly influenced growth, yield, and quality attributes of tomato. Treatment effects were statistically significant as revealed by the analysis of variance.

Growth parameters

Plant height: Combined application of organic and inorganic sources markedly improved plant height at all stages (Table 1). The maximum plant height at 90 DAT (102.6 cm) was recorded in T₄ (75% RDF + 25% poultry manure), which was statistically at par with T₇ (99.2 cm) and significantly superior to all other treatments. The control (T₀) recorded the minimum height (68.4 cm). The superiority of T₄ was due to the readily available nutrients from poultry manure combined with inorganic fertilizers, which ensured continuous supply of major nutrients (N, P, K) during the active vegetative phase, leading to enhanced cell division and elongation. Days to first picking of marketable fruits: The earliest picking (81 days) was recorded in T₄, followed by T₇ (82 days), while the control took the longest (98 days) (Table 2).

Faster reproductive development in T₄ resulted from balanced nutrition that promoted early flowering and fruit set.

Fruit Characters

Fruit length, equatorial diameter, volume and number of locules: Treatment T₄ produced significantly longer (6.15 cm), thicker (6.68 cm), and larger-volume fruits (156.4 cm³) with a higher number of locules (5.4) (Table 3). T₇ was at par with T₄ for most characters. The control recorded the poorest fruit size. Improved assimilate translocation and cell enlargement under balanced nutrition from poultry manure were responsible for better fruit physical characters.

Yield Parameters

Fruit yield: The highest fruit yield per plant (4.12 kg), per plot (16.48 kg), and per hectare (114.4 t ha⁻¹) was obtained with T₄, which was statistically at par with T₇ (109.7 t ha⁻¹) and significantly superior to the rest of the treatments (Table 4). The control gave the lowest yield (51.4 t ha⁻¹). The remarkable yield advantage in T₄ resulted from cumulative improvement in growth and yield-attributing characters due to the synergistic effect of inorganic fertilizers and poultry manure. Quality Parameters Quality attributes: Treatment T₇ recorded the highest total soluble solids (5.8 °Brix), ascorbic acid content (28.9 mg/100 g), sugar:acid ratio (17.06), and lowest titratable acidity (0.34%) (Table 5). T₄ ranked next best for most quality traits. The control registered the poorest quality. The improvement in quality under higher organic substitution (T₇) resulted from slow and steady nutrient release, enhanced microbial activity, better soil organic carbon status, and reduced nitrate accumulation, leading to higher synthesis of sugars, vitamins, and organic acids.

Economic analysis

Economics of production: Treatment T₄ recorded the highest gross return (₹6,86,400 ha⁻¹), net return (₹4,86,400 ha⁻¹), and benefit-cost ratio (3.43), followed by T₇ (B:C ratio 3.17) (Table 6). The control gave the lowest returns. The economic superiority of T₄ was mainly due to maximum fruit yield with moderate cost of cultivation. www.extensionjournal.com The overall results conclusively indicated that substitution of 25% RDF through poultry manure (T₄) is the most effective and economically viable practice for achieving higher growth, yield, and profitability in tomato under Middle Gangetic Plain conditions of Uttar Pradesh. When the emphasis is on improving fruit quality parameters (TSS, ascorbic acid, and sugar:acid ratio), higher organic integration (T₇) can be adopted without much reduction in yield. These INM strategies not only sustain soil fertility but also reduce dependence on costly chemical fertilizers.

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