EFFECT OF NUTRIENT SOLUTION ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF TOMATO CULTIVARS IN HYDROPONIC CULTURE

Abstract

Specific nutrient solution is one of the important components for growing tomato in hydroponic culture. Therefore, an experiment was conducted at semi-greenhouse at Horticulture Farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka-1207 during August, 2019 to March, 2020 to study the effect of nutrient solution on growth and yield of tomato cultivars in hydroponic culture. The experiment consisted of two factors and followed Completely Randomized Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Factor A: Three tomato cultivars [viz; V 1 = Rani (Krishibid Seed Ltd.), V 2 = Extra profit (Supreme Seed Co. Ltd.) and V 3 = Roma VF (Afroza Seed Company.)]; and Factor B: Four types of nutrient solution [viz; NS 1 = Rahman and Inden nutrient solution, NS 2 = ½ strength of Rahman and Inden nutrient solution, NS 3

= ¾ strength of Rahman and Inden nutrient solution and NS 4 = Hoagland and Arnon No. 2 nutrient solution]. Results revealed that the highest number of leaf per plant (40.09), earliest day to first flowering (26.44 DAT), highest number of flower cluster per plant (18.78), highest number of fruits per plant (26.33), fruit length (4.46 cm), fruit diameter (4.21 cm), individual fruit fresh weight (105.21 g), individual dry weight of tomato (8.36 g) and fruit yield per plant (5.30 kg) found in ½ strength of Rahman and Inden nutrient solution (NS 2 ). In case of different tomato cultivars, the highest yield per plant (4.18 kg) was found in Rani tomato cultivar (V 1 ). In case of combination, the highest number of leaves per plant (44.93), earliest day to first flowering (26.00 DAT), highest number of flower cluster per plant (19.67), the highest number of fruits per plant (34.33), fruit length (4.50 cm), fruit diameter (4.23 cm), individual fruit fresh weight (110.95 g), fruit dry weight (8.44 g) and yield per plant (7.13 kg) was found in V 1 . Therefore, it can be concluded that Rani tomato cultivar along with ½ strength of Rahman and Inden nutrient solution can be cultured with higher yield in hydroponic culture.