IMPROVEMENT OF TOMATO (LYCOPERSICON ESCULENTUM L.) PRODUCTIVITY IN CALCAREOUS SOIL BY IRON FOLIAR APPLICATION

In order to explore the role of foliar iron application as a supplement for obtaining higher yield of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.), an experiment was conducted during the winter and spring seasons of 2013/2014 in ISA Chott-Mariem, in a sandy loam soil having alkaline pH (8.02). The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with 5 treatments and 3 replications per treatment. Five concentrations of iron i.e. 0, 500, 1000, 1500 and 2000 mg.l-1 FeSO4 were applied exogenously after 40 days after transplantation by hand sprayer. The data for different physiological and yield parameters recorded during the course of study was subjected to statistical analysis for comparison purposes. Exposure of tomato to iron foliar application increased the physiological and yield parameters. Plant height, number of leaves, number of green leaves, leaf length, fruit number, fruit size, fruit weight and yield were significantly increased as compared to plants grown under iron-free environment. Similarly, foliar iron application also increased CO2 assimilation and photosynthetic pigment content. Foliar spray of 500 and 1000 mg.l-1FeSO4 solutions was found to be most effective for enhancing physiological and yield parameters. Further increase in the concentrations of FeSO4 spray was not found to be useful as it declined the yield or even more probably due to its toxicity. This study proves that foliar application of iron at optimum level, through action as growth promoter, can increase the growth and yield in tomato.