Effect of Conjunctive use of Inorganic Potassium, Potassium Humate and Triacontanol on Chlorophyll, Carotenoid and Nutrient uptake by Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) in an Alfisol of Telangana State

A field experiment was conducted during kharif, 2011 on sandy clay soil to study the effect of individual and integrated use of inorganic potassium, potassium humate and triacontanol on chlorophyll, carotenoid and nutrient uptake by tomato. The experiment was conducted in randomized block design with sixteen treatments replicated thrice. The soil samples were collected from the experimental site and analysed for their salient characteristics and the plant samples were analysed for chlorophyll, carotenoid, nutrient content and uptake. Tomato (ArkaVikas) responded significantly to potassium application. The leaf chlorophyll and carotenoid content were found significantly higher in treatment receiving 60 kg K₂O ha⁻¹ along with foliar application of potassium humate @0.5 L/acre at flowering and triacontanol @ 1μM with the corresponding values of 52.41SPAD units and 0.743 mg g⁻¹ respectively. The nutrient content and uptakes by the crop were found to be significantly influenced by the treatment receiving 60 kg K₂O ha⁻¹ along with foliar application of potassium humate and triacontanol which was significantly superior to the recommended dose of K.