Evaluation of Integrated Nutrient Management Practice for Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) Production under Greenhouse Conditions

Abstract

Understanding integrated nutrient management is crucial for promoting the production of crops, including tomatoes, while minimizing the harsh effects of chemical fertilizers on soil health as well as humans. To evaluate the effects of different combinations of organic and inorganic fertilizers, including farmyard manure (FYM), vermicompost, and compost, and their combinations on tomato growth and yield, a randomized complete block design experiment was conducted in a plastic tunnel of Lamjung Campus, Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Tribhuvan University, Nepal, in 2023. In this study, the morphological parameters, such as height and diameter of the plants, were observed at 15, 30, 45, and 60 days after transplanting (DAT). Furthermore, the flowers per bunch were counted at sixty DAT, and finally, yield was measured. The result revealed that there was no significant difference in height of plants among different treatments. The number of flowers per bunch (p-value = 0.028) and stem diameter at 60 DAT (p-value = 0.019) were found to be higher when the combination of ½ recommended chemical fertilizer and ½ farmyard manure (FYM, 25 t/ha) was applied. Simultaneously, yield was significantly higher in the same treatment (p-value <0.0001). Instead of applying organic or inorganic fertilizers individually, the integrated approach was found to be more promising, particularly the combination of chemical fertilizers with FYM.