GROWTH, YIELD AND FRUIT QUALITY IMPROVEMENT OF TOMATO AS INFLUENCED BY HUMIC ACID AND SALICYLIC ACID

Abstract

A field study was carried out at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University in Dhaka from October 2020 to April 2021 to examine how humic acid and salicylic acid influenced tomato growth, yield and fruit quality. In this experiment, four distinct dosages of humic acid H 0 = 0 ppm, H 1 = 30 ppm, H 2 ii

= 60 ppm, and H 3 = 90 ppm as well as four doses of salicylic acid S 0 = 0 ppm, S 1 = 40 ppm, S 2 = 80 ppm, and S 3 = 120 ppm were utilized. The experiment was set up using a two-factor Randomized Complete Block Design. The maximum number of flowers per plant (53.67), number of fruits per plant (34.58), yield of fruits per plant (2.97 kg) were found at H 3 (90 ppm) humic acid treatment while the lowest result found in control. The maximum number of flowers per plant (54.43), number of fruits per plant (34.20) and yield of fruits per plant (2.90 kg) were found in S 2 (80 ppm) salicylic acid treatment. The highest vitamin – C content (16.93 mg/100g), sodium (7.28%), 0 brix content (4.75) and lycopene content (4.72 mg/100g) in fruit were found in 90 ppm humic acid with 80 ppm salicylic acid. The highest yield of fruits per hectare (137.06 tones) was obtained from 90 ppm humic acid with 80 ppm salicylic acid treatment. In order to sustain better development and improve tomato yield and fruit quality, the treatment of 90 ppm humic acid with 80 ppm salicylic acid would be the ideal choice.