Yield, income and energy budget of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) in organic farming

The present study was aimed to evaluate the effect of different organic manures (farmyard manure, vermi-compost and neem cake) on fruit yield and economic performance of organically grown tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill). The field experiment was conducted during winter (rabi) 2009–10 at Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh with 14 treatments. Yield attributes and fruit yield of tomato were significantly influenced by the application of different sources and rates of organic inputs. Vermi-compost was better nutrient source than farmyard manure. Maximum fruit yield (29.2 tonnes ha⁻¹) with higher yield attributes, viz. average weight (57.8 g) and diameter (5.6 cm) of fruit were realized with the application of vermi-compost (7.5 tonnes ha)⁻¹, closely followed by combined application of farmyard manure 10 tonnes ha⁻¹ + vermi-compost 2.5 tonnes ha⁻¹ + neem cake 1 quintal ha⁻¹ (27.4 tonnes ha⁻¹) and these were significantly superior to other treatments. However, application of vermi-compost 2.5 t ha⁻¹ + neem cake 1 q ha⁻¹ showed the highest net energy output (10.42 thousand MJ ha⁻¹), energy-use efficiency (2.21) and energy productivity (2.76). Sole application of vermi-compost at higher rates (7.5 t ha⁻¹) was most energy intensive (0.35 MJ ⁻¹). Combined use of farmyard manure 10 t ha⁻¹ + vermi-compost 2.5 t ha⁻¹ + neem cake 1 q ha⁻¹ recorded highest net returns ( 79.04 thousand ha⁻¹) at normal prices, which was significantly superior to other treatments except the treatment receiving farmyard manure @ 30 t ha⁻¹ ( 77.48 thousand ha⁻¹) which was at par to each other. Similarly, all treatments receiving organic inputs gave higher net returns ( 50.83- 120.14 thousand ha⁻¹) than the control, when a price premium (10–30%) was assigned to organic tomato.