Effect of Varying Application Rates of Carbofuran on Morpho-physiological Traits, Nutrient Uptake and Yield of Tomato Fruits Grown in Natural and Amended Soils

The effect of carbofuran (a systemic insecticide/nematicide) on morpho-physiological traits, chlorophyll content, up take of N, P and K by tomato plants and yield of tomato fruits/plant are reported in green house condition. Fifteen days old seedlings of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum K-25) were transplanted in control soil and chemical fertilizer, vermicompost, and combination of chemical fertilizer plus vermicompost amended soils treated with low field rate (LFR), field rate (FR) and higher field rate (HFR) of carbofuran. The results indicated that significant differences in the test parameters were observed among the soil amendments and treatments with carbofuran. A significant improvement in morpho-physiological traits, chlorophyll content, up take of N, P and K and yield of tomato were noted up to FR application of carbofuran but the LFR carbofuran application proved highly effective and gave most significant improvement of these parameters in both natural and amended soils. The phytotoxic effect in the form of marginal leaf scorching was noted in plants treated with HFR of carbofuran in both systems.