GROWTH AND YIELD RESPONSE OF TOMATO (LYCOPERSICON ESCULENTUM MILL.) TO SOIL APPLIED CALCIUM CARBIDE AND L-METHIONINE

A pot experiment was conducted in the wirehouse to compare the effects of 2 precursors (Calcium carbide and L-methionine) of ethylene on growth and yield of tomato. L-methonine @ 1 mg kg (-1)soil in the form of solution and Calcium carbide @ 15 mg kg(-1)soil in medical capsules were applied. Encapsulated Calcium carbide was applied 6 cm deep into soil. Recommended doses of N, P and K fertilizers @ 100-90-60 kg ha(-1), respectively were applied alone and in combination with precursors. Half dose of N and full dose of P and K was applied after one week of nursery transplantation and the remaining dose after 3 weeks of nursery transplantation. Encapsulated Calcium carbide was applied after 10 days of transplantation while L-methonine was dissolved in water and then applied after 10 days of transplanting. A completely randomized design was followed with 6 treatments and 3 replications. Results regarding number of flowers, number of fruits, shoot dry weight, fruit weight, root weight, N concentration and uptake in shoot and fruit were significantly affected by both precursors in combination with fertilizers compared to control and alone fertilizer. Application of Calcium carbide with NPK fertilizer improved the yield contributing factors that resulted in significant increase in tomato fruit yield.