Response of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) to micronutrients and plant growth regulators with respect to growth, yield and nutrient uptake

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the kharif season of 2024–25 at the College of Horticulture, Bagalkot, to investigate the effects of micronutrients and plant growth regulators (PGRs) on growth, yield and nutrient uptake of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). The experiment was arranged in a randomised block design (RBD) with ten treatments and 3 replications. The treatments consisted of foliar application of micronutrients (zinc, (Zn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu) and boron (B)) and PGRs (gibberellic acid (GA₃) and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA)) in various combinations along with the recommended dose of fertilisers (RDF). The results revealed that the combined application of micronutrients and PGRs significantly enhanced vegetative growth, flowering, yield attributes, fruit quality and nutrient uptake compared to RDF alone. Among the treatments, foliar application of GA₃ and NAA (60 c each) along with zinc sulphate (ZnSO₄), iron sulphate (FeSO₄), copper sulphate (CuSO₄) and boric acid (0.015 % each) recorded the highest fruit yield (74.04 t ha-1), along with improved growth parameters, yield components and quality traits such as total soluble solids (TSS) and ascorbic acid content. This treatment also resulted in higher nutrient uptake and economic returns, with a benefit–cost ratio of 3.19. The study concludes that the integrated foliar application of micronutrients (0.015 %) and PGRs (60 ppm) is an effective strategy to enhance productivity, quality and nutrient uptake of tomato under field conditions.