Impact of combined cow dung and zinc on growth traits and yield of tomato

Abstract

In the present study, the combined effects of cow dung (CD) and zinc (Zn) fertilizers on tomato growth and yield was studied. Seven (7) treatments as T₀=CD₀Zn₀ (Control), T₁=CD₅Zn₀, T₂=CD₀Zn₁, T₃=CD₀Zn_1.5, T₄=CD₅Zn₂, T₅=CD₅Zn_2.5, T₆=CD₅Zn₃ were used in a RCBD with three replications using two factors like cow dung (0 and 5 t ha^-1) and zinc fertilizers (0, 1, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 kg ha^-1).The use of CD and Zn fertilizers had a substantial impact on all of the assessed growth, yield contributing attributes, and yield. The result revealed that the highest yield and yield contributing characters such as plant height (51.33, 73.00 and 105.00 cm at 35, 50 and 65 DAT, respectively), number of leaves plant^-1 (17.00, 19.33 and 24.00 at 35, 50 and 65 DAT, respectively), number of branches plant^-1 (11.00, 12.00 and 14.00 at 35, 50 and 65 DAT, respectively), maximum number of flower clusters plant^-1 (7.00 and 15.60 at 50 and 65 DAT, respectively), number of fruits plant^-1 (8.00 and 46.09 at 50 and 65 DAT, respectively), the highest individual fruit weight (73.00 g), weight of fruit plant^-1 (4.83 kg), fruit length (7.50 cm), fruit diameter (4.17 cm) and yield (55.00 t ha^-1) were produced at T₆ (5 t CD ha^-1 and 3 kg Zn ha^-1) but lowest in T₀ (control) in all parameters. The results of the study suggest that combining CD and Zn fertilizers is an excellent source of tomato fertilization, with T₆ treatment (5 t CD ha^-1 and 3 kg Zn ha^-1) being found to be the most suitable due to the use of fewer treatment factors than recommended doses for obtaining economically viable yield.