EFFECT OF COWDUNG SLURRY ON GROWTH, YIELD AND QUALITY OF TOMATO IN HYDROPONIC SYSTEM

Abstract

A pot experiment was conducted at the Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka1207, to investigate the

effect of cowdung slurry on growth, yield and quality of tomato in hydroponic system. The experiment consisted of two factors, and followed completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. Factor A: Tomato variety denoted as V, viz: V 1 = BARI tomato-4, V 2 = BARI tomato-10, V ii 3 = BARI tomato-5, V = Tomato line 1885, Factor B: Cowdung slurry denoted as C, viz: C 0 = 0 ml L -1 + standard solution, C 1 = 100 ml L -1 + standard solution, C 2 = 150 ml L -1 + standard solution and C = 200 ml L -1 + standard solution. Experimental results revealed that in case of different varieties cultivating of BARI toamto-10 in hydroponic system (V ) had the highest number of flower clusters plant -1 (16.67), fruits cluster plant -1 2 (6.75), fruits plant -1 (54.25), fruit polar length (3.68 cm), fruit radial length (3.47 cm), individual fruit fresh weight (67.42 g), fruit dry weight (3.76 g), yield plant -1 (3.66 kg), volume (190.00 cc) and pH value (4.50) while V treatment contained the highest total soluble solids (6.58 %). In case of different levels of cowdung slurry application with standard nutrient solution differences the plant yield ranges between (2.26-2.75 kg plant 3 -1 ). The highest yield plant (2.75 kg) was recorded in C 3 (200 ml L -1 cowdung slurry + standard solution) treated pot which was due to enhanced yield attributes like flower clusters plant -1 -1 4 3 (15.33), fruits cluster plant

(6.09), fruits plant -1 (39.75), fruit polar length (3.68 cm), fruit radial length (3.35 cm), individual fruit fresh weight (69.12 g), fruit dry weight (3.71 g).Cultivating of BARI toamto-10 (V 2 ) along with (C 3 ) 200 ml L -1 cowdung slurry + standard solution treated pot performed best for achieving higher yield (4.02 kg) and quality of tomato, comparable to others treatment combinations in hydroponic culture.