title: Effect of vermicompost on growth, yield and nutrition status of tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum).
abstract: An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of vermicompost on growth, yield and fruit quality of tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum var. Super Beta) in a field condition. The experiment was a randomized complete block design with four replications. The different rates of vermicompost (0, 5, 10 and 15 t ha(-1)) was incorporated into the top 15 cm of soil. During experiment period, fruits were harvested twice in a week and total yield were recorded for two months. At the end of experiment, growth characteristics such as leaf number, leaf area and shoot dry weights were determined. The results revealed that addition of vermicompost at rate of 15 t ha(-1) significantly (at p < 0.05) increased growth and yield compared to control. Vermicompost with rate of 15 t ha(-1) increased EC of fruit juice and percentage of fruit dry matter up to 30 and 24%, respectively. The content of K, P, Fe and Zn in the plant tissue increased 55, 73, 32 and 36% compared to untreated plots respectively. The result of our experiment showed addition of vermicompost had significant (p < 0.05) positive effects on growth, yield and elemental content of plant as compared to control.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Productions, Moghan Jounior College of Agriculture, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Parsabad, P.O. Box 178, Ardabil Province, Iran.
authors.forename: Rasool
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Azarmi
authors.forename: Parviz Sharifi
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Ziveh
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Satari
mesh_terms: D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000254:growth & development; D012987:Soil
chemical_list: D012987:Soil