NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT IN TOMATO

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) belongs to family solanaceae having chromosome number (2n=24). Total fertilizer consumption in India has been increasing every year. Thus taking into consideration the increasing demand for organic food and to check environmental deterioration due to use of chemical fertilizers, there is need to integrate use of organic fertilizers and bio fertilizers with chemical fertilizers. The hybrid tomato gives well response to fertilizers. In recent years the area under hybrids is increasing every year and hybrids are more fertilizer responsive. Therefore the fertilizer dose of hybrid tomato is 2.5 times more than the straight varieties, such heavy application may lead to soil health problems. Integrated plant nutrient supply system encourages integration of different sources of nutrients such as organic, biological and inorganic fertilizers etc. The integrated use of nutrients can helps to achieve the potential varietal yield with quality. The use of organic fertilizers, bio fertilizers with combination of inorganic fertilizers can helps to reduce the cost of cultivation and will be help full to sustain the soil health.