Studies on silicon and organic liquid nutrient spray on tomato under protected environment

The present investigation was carried out on tomato under protected culture using sixteen treatments having four levels each of silicic acid (0.0%, 0.1%, 0.2% and 0.3%) and Novel organic liquid nutrient (NOVeL) (0.0%, 1.0%, 1.5% and 2.0%) to find out the effect of silicon and nutrient spray on growth, yield and quality parameters. The analysis of data revealed significance of individual effect of silicic acid on yield parameters under study. The effect of NOVEL was limited to few characters, while interaction effect was found to be significant for majority of the traits. Use of silicon as silicic acid (0.3%) gave higher number of fruits per plant (49.68) and correspondingly higher marketable yield per m² (10.82 kg). Different levels of NOVEL were found to influence pericarp thickness and shelf-life significantly and 1.5% NOVEL showed maximum pericarp thickness (6.75 mm) and shelf-life (15.51 days). Silicic acid and NOVeL (0.3% + 1.5%) interactively have maximum incremental leaf area (151.27 cm²) at 60 DAP, fruit firmness (4.38 kgcm⁻²), total soluble solid (4.93 ^oBrix) and minimum physiological loss in weight (10.71%), whereas, silicic acid and NOVeL (0.2% + 2.0%), (0.2% + 0.0%), (0.3% +0.0%) recorded maximum incremental leaf area (151.27 cm², 117.75 cm² and 101.90 cm², respectively) at 40, 120 DAP and at final harvest. Moreover, maximum vitamin A (1124.70 IU) and lycopene content (4.52 mg/100g) was recorded due to the interaction effect of silicic acid and NOVeL (0.2% + 0.0 and 0.0+ 1.5%, respectively).