Evaluation and standardization of water soluble fertilizer as foliar spray for tomato pea sequence under mid hill sub humid zone of Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

The application of water soluble fertilizers as a foliar spray is an important crop management strategy, which may help maximizing crop yield and produce quality. The primary objective of the present study entitled Evaluation and standardization of water soluble fertilizer as foliar spray for tomato-pea sequence under mid-hill sub-humid zone of Himachal Pradesh was to assess the effects of foliar fertilization at different rates and time intervals on tomato-pea sequence. newlineThe field experiment was carried out for two consecutive seasons (2013-14 and 2014-15) at Research Farm of Hill Agricultural Research and Extension Centre, Bajaura, Kullu. The experimental treatments consisted two rates of soil applied NPK fertilizers, three foliar sprays of NPK fertilizer (19:19:19) and foliar spray of NPK at two intervals. One separate control treatment with soil application of 100% NPK fertilizers was also carried out to compare with other treatments. The treatments were replicated thrice in a factorial randomized block design. The state level cultural practices were adopted for raising the crops. newlineThe results of the present study showed that the mean economic yield, net monetary returns and B:C ratio (168.4q ha-1, 1,83,243 Rs ha-1 and 1.61 in pea; 201.9 q ha-1, 1,76,108 Rs ha-1 and 1.54 in tomato) were the maximum due to application of NPK at 100% as compared to 75% NPK. The data also demonstrated that 1.5% foliar spray of NPK (19:19:19) in comparison to 0.5% and 1.0% spray, recorded higher mean economic yield, net returns and B:C (171.5 q ha-1, 1,86,792 Rs ha-1 and 1.62 in pea; 205.6 q ha-1, 1,81,270 Rs ha-1 and 1.57 in tomato). Further, it was observed that foliar spray of NPK at 15 days interval had maximum mean economic yield (166.6 q ha-1 in pea; 200.3 q ha-1 in tomato). However, NPK spray applied at 15 and 30 days interval did not influence mean net returns and B:C ratio. The results also indicated that application of fertilizers at different rates, concentration and intervals exhibited a significant influence on different parameters like growth and yield components, nutrient content and produce quality in pea and tomato crop. However, treatments did not show any significant effect on soil properties except N, P and K availability in soil, which was influenced following application of NPK in soil and maximum build- up of these nutrients, was noticed with 100% NPK application. The positive interactions among treatments for few parameters were also observed during the current study. The results of this study also indicated very high positive inter-relations among different soil and plant parameters. newlineTherefore, based on the net monetary returns and cost benefit ratio obtained in current investigation, the soil application of 100% NPK in conjunction with 1.5% foliar spray of NPK (19:19:19) performed at 30 days interval is encouraged for tomato-pea sequence under mid-hill and sub-humid zone of Himachal Pradesh. newline newline newline