Enriched vermicompost with micronutrients and foliar spray on tomato (cv. pkm-1) boosting yield and quality in saline soil

A field experiment was conducted during 2014 at Theerthampalayam village, Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu with tomato cv., PKM-1. The experimental soil was sandy loam with a pH of 8.41, EC of 4.02 dS m-1 and CEC of 15.20 cmol (p+) kg-1. The available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content were 216, 9 and 150.7 kg ha-1 respectively The treatments were T1- 20 kg of ZnSO4 + 5.0 kg of borax as soil application. T2-T1+pressmud @ 12.5 t ha-1. T3- 10 kg of ZnSO4+ 2.5 kg of borax as soil application+ pressmud @ 12.5 t ha-1 + 0.50 % ZnSO4 + 0.40% borax of F.S on 45 and 60 DAT. T4- 10 kg of ZnSO4 + 2.5 kg of borax as soil application enriched with pressmud @ 12.5 t ha-1 + 0.50% ZnSO4+0.40% borax as F.S on 45 and 60 DAT. T5-T1+vermicompost @ 4 t ha-1. T6 - 10 kg of ZnSO4 + 2.5 kg of borax as soil application + vermicompost @ 4 t ha-1 + 0.50 % ZnSO4 + 0.40% borax as F.S on 45 and 60 DAT. T7- 10 kg of ZnSO4 + 2.5 kg of borax as soil application enriched with vermicompost @ 4 t ha-1 + 0.50 % ZnSO4 + 0.40% borax as F.S on 45 and 60 DAT. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) and replicated three times. The growth attributes viz., plant height was recorded on 25, 50 and 75 days after transplanting. The results of the experiment clearly revealed that the application of ( T7 )10 kg of ZnSO4 + 2.5 kg of borax as soil application enriched with vermicompost @ 4 t ha-1 + 0.50% ZnSO4 + 0.40% borax as F.S on 45 and 60 DAT significantly influenced the growth, yield (fruit,684.25q ha-1and straw,3142.33 kg ha-1 ) and quality ( 45.40 mg 100 g-1).