Effect of Phosphatic Fertilizers at Varying Phosphate and Nitrogen Levels on Fruiting Behaviour of Tomato

The investigations at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi indicated that single superphosphate, monoammonium phosphate and potassium metaphosphate equally influenced the percentage of fruit set, earliness indices and number of ripe fruits produced per plant in tomato. Use of monoammonium phosphate had an advantage of gain in weight of ripe fruits produced per plant over potassium metaphosphate and single superphosphate. But there was no difference between the effects of potassium metaphosphate and single superphosphate on weight of ripe fruits per plant.

Higher levels of phospate hastened earliness in maturity and increased the number and weight of ripe fruits produced per plant. The early fruit was of considerable importance for catching early market to fetch more price of produce. Significant increase was obtained in number and weight of ripe fruits picked up per plant due to nitrogen application. Increase in nitrogen levels (50, 100 and 150 kg N/ha) delayed the maturity of fruits but did not influence the percentage of fruit set.