Response of Tomato (Lycopersicon Esculentum Mill.) To Plant Spacing, Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium Fertilization

Response of tomato variety Sioux to different plant spacing (45x45; 60x45; 75x45; 75 x 60 and 75 X 75 cm) and graded levels of nitrogen (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg N/ha), phosphorus (0, 30, 60 and 90 kg P/ha) and potash (0, 30 and 60 kg K/ha) was studied on sandy loam soil slightly acidic in reaction, low in nitrogen and available phosphorus content and rich in available potash content during the summer seasons of 1973 and 1974 at the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hessaraghatta, Bangalore. Application of nitrogen and phosphorus increased plant height, earliness index, fruit size, fruit yield per plant and per hectare. Closer spacing decreased the yield per plant but increased the yield per hectare. Plant spacing of 45x45 cm and 75x45 cm gave maximum yield. The optimum fertilizer dosage under existing price situation were found to be 91.5 kg N and 59.7 kg P per ha in 1973 and 121.0 kg N and 69.0 kg P per ha in 1974. The maximum limit of fertilization was found to be 105.0 kg N and 74.7 kg P per ha in 1973 and 137 kg N and 79.8 kg P per ha in 1974.