Yield and quality of tomato grown under organic and conventional nutrient management

Nutrient management plays an important role in yield and quality of tomatoes. A field experiment was conducted during the years 2008-09 and 2009-10 to analyze the effect of organic and conventional sources of fertilizer on yield and quality of tomatoes in an acid lateritic soil of India. The organic sources of fertilizer were vermicompost (VC), crop residue (CR), vermiwash (VW) and biofertilizer (BF). The conventional input was chemical fertilizer (CF) applied at recommended dose of 100:80:60 kgha(-1) of N:P2O5:K2O for the tomato. The organic source VC was used to supply 100%N recommendation as single source or 50%N recommendation when combined with CF or organic sources. Maximum fruit yield was recorded when CF was applied at full dose, which was on a par with VC at full recommendation. A higher percentage of large-size fruits (>7 cm) was obtained in VC-based treatments compared with CF treatment. Vermicompost at full dose increased ascorbic acid, beta carotene, total soluble solids and color value compared with its half dose along with other organic sources (CR, BF). The potential exists to improve tomato fruit quality through a better nutrient management, whether it be conventional, organic or a combination of both.