Original Article

Bangladesh Journal of Agriculture and Life Science

Faculty of Agriculture, University of Rajshahi
Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh
Vol. 01(1): 83-87, 2020
www.ru.ac.bd/agriculture/journal

Effect of organic and inorganic fertilizer combination

on growth and yield of tomato varieties
Md. Ekramul Hoque1, Md. Kawser Ali*1, Md. Moniruzzaman2, Prabesh Rai3 and
Shakil Ahmed3
1
Department of Crop science and Technology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh
2
Pran Pvt. Company Ltd., Dhaka, Bangladesh
3
Department of Agronomy and Agricultural Extension, University Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh

ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT

Article History This experiment was conducted to evaluate the combined effect of organic and
Received: January 17, 2020 inorganic fertilizer on growth and yield of tomato using Randomized Complete
Accepted: March 22, 2020
Available online: October 25,
Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Two tomato varieties BARI-2
2020 (Ratan) and BARI-15 were used as planting material. Experiment was laid out in
order to evaluate suitable variety, better management practices and to get high
quality tomato production to overcome the adverse condition. Results revealed
Keywords
Organic that the highest yield of tomato (48.41 t/ha) was found in BARI-2, (57.47 t/ha)
Inorganic was found in treatment T2= ½ Cow dung + ½ chemical fertilizer (Cow dung-
Fertilizer
Growth
7.5ton/ha + Urea-250kg/ha, TSP-200kg/ha, MOP-100kg/ha) and (63.57 t/ha)
Yield and tomato variety was found in treatment combination V1T2 (V1=BARI-2; T2= ½ Cow dung + ½
chemical fertilizer (7.5ton/ha + Urea-250kg/ha, TSP-200kg/ha, MOP-100kg/ha)
followed by BARI-15, poultry litter and chemical fertilizer.
© 2020 Faculty of Agriculture, RU. All rights reserved.

Introduction vitamin C and contain a mixture of different

carotenoids, including vitamin A, effective B-
Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) is one carotene, as well as lycopene (Wilcox et al.
of the most important and popular vegetables in 2003). Tomatoes are usually staked and
Bangladesh. Tomato is normally self-pollinated supported off the ground, in an effort to minimize
annual crop which belongs to the family solanaceae losses from rots when the fruit is in contact with
with chromosome number 2n=24 (Jenkins, 1948). the soil. The pruning of staked tomatoes is a
Tomato is the third in world’s largest vegetable cultural practice that greatly influences yield,
crop after potato (Rashid, 1993). It is popular of according to Davis and Esters (1993).
its diversified use like salad, stewed, juices, Organic farming is a production system, which
sauce, pickles and preservatives. avoids or largely excludes the use of synthetic
At present, tomato is one of the widest grown chemical fertilizers. The continued use of organic
vegetable in the world. Tomatoes are rich in fertilizers increases soil organic matter, better
nutrients, especially potassium, folic acid, water infiltration and aeration, higher soil
biological activity as the materials decompose in
*Address of correspondence soil and increases yields after the year of
Department of Crop science and Technology application (Ceglarek et al., 2002). The
University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh.
effectiveness of such materials can be
E-mail: [email protected] (Md. Kawser Ali)
xxxx-xxxx; © 2020 Faculty of Agriculture, RU. All rights
reserved.
84 Effect of organic and inorganic fertilizer on tomato varieties

improved by combining them with chemical pulverized by several harrowing. The clods were
fertilizers. broken and weeds were removed from the field to
Chemical fertilizers may be used more obtain the desirable tilth. Manuring and
efficiently by crops growing on soils with fertilization was done as per requirements of
adequate amounts of soil organic matter supplied treatments.
by organic fertilizers (Chadha et al., 2006). The healthy and uniform sized seedlings were
Integrated use of cowdung as organic fertilizer transplanted in the main experimental plots at the
and chemical fertilizers would be quite promising age of 30 days. Transplanting was done in the
in soil fertility improvement. The present day afternoon and the seedlings were watered with a
concern about global environmental pollution can watering cane immediately after transplanting.
be reduced to a considerable extent by either Some extra seedlings were also transplanted
judicious use of chemical fertilizers or increase around the border area of the experimental field
the use of manures. The use of manures and their for gap filling. Weeding were accomplished as
proper management may reduce the need for and when necessary in order to keep the crop
chemical fertilizers, thus allowing the small free from weeds.
farmers to save in part the cost of production. In When the plants were well-established, staking
Bangladesh, there is a great possibility of was done with bamboo sticks to keep the plants
increasing tomato yield per unit area with the erect. Irrigations were given as per required
judicious use of organic fertilizers. For this throughout the growing period. Mulching was
reason, the effect of cowdung along with done by breaking the soil crust after irrigation
chemical fertilizers on tomato (Lycopersicon properly. The fruits were harvested at breaker
esculentum) as one of the important vegetable stage (Just turn into yellowish color) and /or as
crops is considered in this study. per requirements of the experiment

Materials and Methods Data Collection

The field experiment was conducted at the In each treatment, different phyto-
experimental farm of the department of Crop physiological responses as well as growth, yield
Science and Technology, University of Rajshahi and yield components of tomatoes, plant height,
using two tomato varieties namely BARI-2 (Ratan) number of leaves per plant, number of branches
and BARI-15, commonly grown in Rajshahi. The per plant, total fruit per plant and total yield (t/ha)
soil of the experimental farm was sandy loam. subjected to experimental treatment were
collected and recorded carefully. Growth
Cultural practices responses of tomato plants were measured from
randomly selected tagged plants at 20, 40, 60,
Tomato seeds were sown in 50 cm apart rows 80,100 and 120 days after transplantation. Yield
in 3m × 1m sized beds. The beds were prepared component and yield were measured after
well ahead of seed sowing. The bed soil was harvest. Tomato yield per hectare was calculated
mixed with well- decomposed cowdung at the rate on the basis of yield per plot and expressed in ton.
of 5-6 kg/bed. The soil prepared by spade and It was measured by the following formula:
made into loose, friable and dried mass to obtain Fruit yield ton per hectare (t/ha)
fine tilth. Sevin 85 SP (Bayer Crop Science
Limited) was applied around the bed immediately =
after sowing the seeds for controlling ant and
other insects. No chemical fertilizer was used in
the seed bed. Dithane M-45 (Bayer Crop Science Details methodology of the experiment
Limited) was sprayed on the seed beds at the rate
of 2g/l to protect the seedlings from damping-off There were 2 factor in the experiments, as
and other diseases. follows:
The land selected for the experiment was
relatively high, well drained and had light soil. The Variable-I: Fertilizers
experimental plot was thoroughly prepared by T1 = Cow dung (CD-15 ton/ha),
ploughing with a tractor driven plough followed by
ploughing with a power tiller. The soil was
 Hoque et al. / Bangladesh J Agric Life Sci 1(2020) 83-87 85

T2 = ½ Cow dung+ ½ Chemical Fertilizer (CD- status and increasing yield. Despite the
7.5ton/ha + Urea-250kg/ha, TSP 200kg/ha, environmental and other yield constraints
MOP-100kg/ha), encountered by the crop during growth, the
T3 = Poultry Litter (PL-10 ton/ha), overall assessment showed that it is essential
T4 = ½ PL + ½ Chemical Fertilizer (PL-5ton/ha + to consider the main commercial fraction like
Urea-250kg/ha, TSP 200kg/ha, MOP- the marketable fruit yield in choosing the level
100kg/ha), of organic and inorganic fertilizers and their
T5 = ½ Cow dung + ½ PL (CD-7.5 Ton/ha + PL-5 combinations suitable for use in tomato
Ton/ha). production. The combined analysis of variance of
data on different plant growth characteristics and
Variable-II: Two tomato varieties (V1= yield behavior obtained from the present study
BARI-2, V2= BARI-15) have been presented on tables-1 to 3 for clear
interpretation.
Treatment Combinations: 2 ×5=10 The result of the present study indicated that
T1=T1V1; T2= T2V1; T3= T3V1; T4= T4V1; T5= T5V1; T6= there were significant variations on tomato
T1V2; T7= T2V2; T8= T3V2;T9= T4V2; T10= T5V2. varieties in terms of plant height, number of
leaves per plant, number of branches per plant,
Design and layout of the experiment total fruit per plant and yield (Table-1). The
maximum yield was produced by the variety BARI-
The field experiment was laid out in 2 (48.41 t/ha) and the minimum yield was
Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with produced by the variety in BARI-15 (39.16 t/ha).
3 replications. The entire experiment was divided The plant height of tomato, which is an
into 3 blocks each containing 10 plots. In total important parameter affecting the growth,
there were 30 unit plots. The selected treatments significantly varied due to organic and inorganic
were randomly assigned to each unit plot. The fertilizer (Table-2). It was observed that the
unit plot size was 3 m x 1 m. The plots and blocks maximum plant height of tomato (101.07cm) was
were separated by 80 cm. Planting distance was found in treatment T2= ½ Cow dung + ½ chemical
60 cm x 40 cm. Sixteen seedlings were planted in fertilizer (7.5ton/ha + Urea-250 kg/ha, TSP-
each plot. They were staked with bamboo sticks 200kg/ha, MOP-100kg/ha). On the other hand, the
at 20 days after transplanting to keep the plants minimum plant height (90.70cm) was found in 10
erect. t/ha poultry litter. Rahman et al. (1996) reported
Table 1. Single effect of organic and inorganic fertilizer on growth and yield of tomato Varieties
Treatments Plant height No. of leaves/Plant No. of branches/ Plant Total fruit/ Plant Yield (t/ha)
V1 86.55b 60.53a 5.73a 17.07b 48.41a
V2 105.35a 54.87b 4.87b 21.20a 39.16b
Level of significance ** ** ** ** **
CV% 0.37 3.36 8.47 4.65 1.24
Means followed by the same letter/letters do not statistically differ at 1% and 5% level tested by DMRT; ** = Significant at 1% level
of probability; Whereas, V1= BARI 2 (Ratan); V2= BARI 15.

Statistical analysis that cowdung in combination with other fertilizers

played an important role in respect to vegetable
The data were statistically analyzed by using growth of tomato. Ewulo et al. (2015) also
MSTAT-C computer based program. The recorded observed that 50% PM (180g) + 50% NPK (3.6g)
data for different characters were subjected to had the highest plant height. Manure application
analysis of variance (ANOVA) and treatment at the rate of 10 t/ha produced significantly taller
means were compared by Duncan’s Multiple plants which were higher by 7.38% over the
Range Test (DMRT). control. This might be due to the ability of manure
to supply numerous plant nutrients and in creating
Results and Discussion suitable plant growing environment by improving
moisture and nutrient status of the soil which
This study combined organic and inorganic enhance growth and general performance of the
fertilizer applications are effective for soil nutrient plants. Consistent with this suggestion, Hader
(1986) reported that organic fertilizers
86 Effect of organic and inorganic fertilizer on tomato varieties

compensate for both the deficit and the from the treatment T3 receiving Poultry litter 10
excess of elements in the soil, which can take t/ha.
place with mineral fertilization. Significant variation was found in respect of
different levels of organic and inorganic fertilizer
Table 2. Mean effect of organic and in-organic fertilizer combination on Tomato Varieties
No. of leaves/ No. of branches/ Total fruit/
Treatments Plant height (cm) Yield (t/ha)
Plant Plant Plant
T1 92.40d 48.83c 4.67b 16.33c 37.80d
T2 101.07a 68.50a 6.33a 25.17a 57.47a
T3 90.70e 45.83c 4.50b 12.33d 28.53e
T4 99.95b 66.00a 5.50ab 23.83a 54.82b
T5 95.62c 59.33b 5.50ab 18.00b 40.30c
Level of significance ** ** ** ** **
CV% 0.37 3.36 8.74 4.65 1.24
Means followed by the same letter/letters do not statistically differ at 1% level tested by DMRT; ** = Significant at 1%
level of probability.
The effect of organic and inorganic fertilizer in for fruit yield as ton per hectare. The result
relation to the number of leaves per plant was revealed that the highest yield of tomato fruits
significant. The highest number of leaves per (57.47) was obtained from the treatment T2= ½
plant (68.50) was obtained from the treatment T2 Cow dung + ½ chemical fertilizer (7.5ton/ha +
= ½ Cow dung + ½ chemical Fertilizer (7.5ton/ha + Urea-250 kg/ha, TSP-200kg/ha, MOP-100kg/ha)
Urea-250 kg/ha, TSP-200kg/ha, MOP-100kg/ha) and the lowest yield of tomato fruits (28.53) was
and the lowest number of leaves per plant (45.83) obtained from treatment T3= poultry litter 10 t/ha.
were obtained from the treatment T3 receiving Solaiman et al. (2006) observed the highest fruit
poultry litter 10 t/ha. yield in treatment N200+ P35 + K80+ S15 in
Table-3: Combined effect of organic and in-organic fertilizer of tomato varieties
Treatments Plant No. of No. of Total
Yield (t/ha)
Combination height (cm) leaves/ Plant branches/ Plant fruit/ Plant
V 1T1 82.00i 51.33 5.00 14.33 41.93f
V 1T2 92.80f 72.67 7.00 23.00 63.57a
V 1T3 80.03j 47.00 4.67 11.00 31.50i
V 1T4 91.67g 69.67 6.00 21.33 60.37b
V 1T5 86.23h 62.00 6.00 15.67 44.67e
V 2T1 102.80d 46.33 4.33 18.33 33.66h
V 2T2 109.33a 64.33 5.67 27.33 51.37c
V 2T3 101.37e 44.67 4.33 13.66 25.56j
V 2T4 108.23b 62.33 5.00 26.33 49.27d
V 2T5 105.00c 56.66 5.00 20.33 35.99g
Level of significance ** NS NS NS *
CV% 0.37 3.36 8.74 4.65 1.24
Means followed by the same letter/letters do not statistically differ at 1% and 5% level tested by DMRT; * = Significant
at 5% level of probability; ** = Significant at 1% level of probability; NS= Not Significant; Whereas, V1 = BARI 2
(Ratan); V2 = BARI 15

The effect of organic and inorganic fertilizer on tomato. This finding is supported by Rahman et al.
number of fruits per plant was significant. The (1996 and 1998) who reported that cow dung in
highest number of fruits per plant (25.17) was combination with other fertilizers, play an
found in the treatment T2= ½ Cow dung + ½ important role with respect in tomato fruit yield.
chemical Fertilizer (7.5ton/ha + Urea-250 kg/ha, T1 = Cow dung(15 ton/ha), T2= ½ Cow dung+ ½
TSP-200kg/ha, MOP-100kg/ha) and the lowest chemical fertilizer (7.5ton/ha+Urea-250kg/ha,TSP-
number of fruits per plant (12.33) were obtained 200kg/ha, MOP-100kg/ha), T3 = Poultry litre (PL-
 Hoque et al. / Bangladesh J Agric Life Sci 1(2020) 83-87 87

10 ton/ha), T4 = ½ PL + ½ Chemical fertilizer The results also indicated that the variety
(5ton/ha+ Urea-250kg/ha,TSP-200kg/ha, MOP- BARI-2 (Ratan) showed superior performance
100kg/ha)), T5 = ½ Cow dung + ½ PL (7.5 than BARI-15 tomato varieties on different
fertilizer combination regarding growth and yield
Ton/ha+5 Ton/ha).
of tomato. Organic and inorganic fertilizer in
The combined effect of organic and inorganic
treatment T2= ½ Cow dung + ½ Chemical fertilizer
fertilizer in respect to the plant height was
(7.5ton/ha + Urea-250kg/ha, TSP-200kg/ha, MOP-
significant at 1% level of probability. The highest
100kg/ha) was observed better performance than
plant height was found (109.33 cm) in the
others treatment which may be recommended for
treatment V2T2 (V2=BARI-15; T2= ½ Cow dung + ½
farmers. This combination improved the soil
chemical fertilizer (7.5ton/ha + Urea-250kg/ha,
health and ecological condition also. It may be
TSP-200kg/ha, MOP-100kg/ha) and the lowest
said here that the result of the study may
plant height (80.03 cm) was obtained from the
suggested for the growers to further tested
treatment V1T3 (V1=BARI-2; T3=Poultry Litter -10
different agro-ecological zone in Bangladesh.
ton/ha).
Number of leaves per plant was differ non-
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How to cite this article: Md. Ekramul Hoque, Md. Kawser Ali, Md. Moniruzzaman, Prabesh Rai and Shakil
Ahmed (2020). Effect of organic and inorganic fertilizer combination on growth and yield of tomato varieties.
Bangladesh Journal of Agriculture and Life Science 1(1): 83-87.
88 Effect of organic and inorganic fertilizer on tomato varieties