Investigation regarding the effectiveness of nitrogen sources and concentration on plant characteristics in tomato (Lycopersicon Esculentum)

Abstract

Tomato is one of the most popular and widely grown vegetable crops in the world. The tomato crop is highly responsive to nitrogen (N) fertilizer application. These studies were conducted to assess the effects of nitrogen sources and concentration on plant characteristics of semi-determinate and determinate types of tomato at Dusan campurean UTM. Data for plant height, number of leaves, leaf branches and nitrogen content of leaves were recorded. After 12 weeks, strong effects of urea and ammonium nitrate were observed on plant height, number of leaves, leaf branch and nitrogen content in the leaf of indeterminate and semideterminate respectively. Results indicated that the best responses of indeterminate and semi-determinate plant height was120cm and 85cm in 1.2 N g concentration of urea and ammonium nitrate respectively. The effect of nitrogen sources on a number of leaves has been evaluated, the highest number of leaves found in indeterminate variety was 82 with urea treatment while semi-determinate was 71 with ammonium nitrate. Moreover, leaf branches and nitrogen uptake for the both varieties have different responses for nitrogen source, the highest percentage of nitrogen in indeterminate and semi-determinate was 3.31 %, 4.86% while that of leaf branches were 18, 17 respectively in high level of nitrogen concentration of urea and ammonium nitrate. Since both varieties have different genetic backgrounds, they respond differently to nitrogen sources. It is therefore suggested that urea and ammonium nitrate would be better source of nitrogen in indeterminate and semi-determinate types of tomato, rather than ammonium sulphate.