Response of Cherry Tomato [Solanum lycopersicum L. var. cerasiforme (Dunnal) A. Gray] to Varied Levels of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Fertigation under Open Field and Polyhouse Conditions

Abstract

An investigation was carried out at the Department of Horticulture, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore during summer-2017 to study the effect ofvaried levels of nitrogen and phosphorus fertigation on cherry tomato under open field and polyhouse conditions. There were 12 treatment combinations comprising of two growing conditions (open field and polyhouse), three levels of nitrogen (120, 150 and 180 kg N ha-1) and two levels of phosphorus (100 and 120 kg P2O5 ha-1) supplied trough fertigation with recommended potassium (150 kg h-1) as constant which were laid out in Factorial Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Result revealed that plant height (384.39 cm), fresh weight per plant (3.00 kg),nitrogen balance index (48.56), total leaf area per plant (6293 cm2), mean fruit weight (15.84 g), TSS content (6.30 ºB) and shelf life (15.66 days) were significantly higher under polyhouse condition with fertigation level of 180:120 kg N:P2O5 ha-1. However, significantly higher yield per hectare (78.16 t), Shelf life (15.66 days) and higher cost benefit ratio (4.81) were observed under open field condition with fertigation level of 150:120 kg N: P2O5 ha-1. Further, it can be concluded from the study that application of 150:120 kg N: P2O5 ha-1 through fertigation under open field condition is profitable during summer season in the Eastern Dry Zone of Karnataka.