Influence of Mulch and Biofertilizer on Growth and Yield of Tomato

The present study comprised of three genotypes (V₁-Naveen 2000⁺, V₂-Sun-7711 and V₃-Solan Lalima), three mulches (M₀-No mulch, M₁-Pine needle mulch and M₂-black polyethylene) and three biofertilizers (B₀-recommended NPK, B₁-100% NPK+Azotobacter (1 g plant⁻¹)+PSB (1 g plant⁻¹) and B₂-75% NPK+Azotobacter (1 g plant⁻¹)+PSB (1 g plant⁻¹). Thus, there were 27 treatment combinations which were replicated thrice in split-split plot design. Among varieties, number of days to first flowering and first harvest and maximum yield was observed with the variety V₂ (Sun-7711). Among the mulch materials and biofertilizers, M₂ (Black polythene) and B₁ (100% NPK+Azotobacter (1 g plant⁻¹)+PSB (1 g plant⁻¹) were recorded to be the best regarding number of days to first flowering and first harvest and fruit yield. The first order interactions viz., varieties×mulch, biofertilizers×mulch and varieties×biofertilizers significantly affected most of the characters under study. Maximum fruit yield was obtained with treatment combinations of V₂M₂ (Sun-7711 applied with black polyethylene mulch), B₂M₂ (75% NPK+Azotobacter (1 g plant⁻¹)+PSB (1 g plant⁻¹) applied with black polyethylene mulch) and V₂B₂ (Sun-7711 with 75% NPK+Azotobacter (1 g plant⁻¹)+PSB (1 g plant⁻¹). Further in three factor interaction, the highest fruit yield (1037.33 q ha⁻¹) was obtained with the treatment combination of Sun-7711, 75% NPK+Azotobacter (1 g plant⁻¹)+PSB (1 g plant⁻¹) and black polyethylene mulch (V₂B₂M₂).