Relevance of fertigation on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) under polyhouse

A field experiment was conducted at Rahuri, Maharashtra during the summer seasons of 2013 and 2014, to study the effect of fertigation levels and schedules on yield and monetary returns of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) under naturally ventilated polyhouse. The treatments included 3 fertigation levels [60% of recom-mended dose of fertilizer (RDF), 80% of RDF and 100% of RDF] and 3 fertigation schedules (6 equal splits of NPK at every 18 days interval, 9 equal splits of RD of NPK at every 12 days interval, 12 equal splits of RD of NPK at every 9 days interval). Yield attributes like number of fruits/plant and fruit weight/plant significantly increased 20.63 and 27.54% owing to fertigation of 80% RDF over 60% RDF. Similarly, fertigation schedule comprising application in 12 equal splits at 9 days interval resulted in significantly more yield attributes over the other schedules. Results of 2 years of investigation indicated that fertigation of 80% of RDF (240: 120: 120 N: P: K kg/ha) in 12 equal splits at every 9 days interval up to 120 days after transplanting proved most suitable to achieve the maximum tomato fruit yield (14.34 t), net monetary returns ( 148, 300)/unit of polyhouse (784 m²) during summer season under naturally ventilated polyhouse condition.