Enhancing Yield of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) in Sri Lanka Through Organic Fertilizer Solutions

Abstract

Limited access to chemical fertilizers has led to yield challenges in the cultivation of tomatoes in Sri Lanka, adversely impacting the livelihoods of growers. This experiment was conducted to assess the efficacy of organic fertilizer solutions compared to conventional fertilization methods. The tested fertilizers included chemical fertilizers for nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), organic fertilizer solutions, organic fertilizer solutions combined with Albert's solution, and Albert's solution used independently. Two distinct organic fertilizer solutions were formulated and applied during different growth stages of the tomato plant, namely the vegetative and reproductive phases. The first solution consisted of cow dung, Glyricidia leaves, and dried banana leaves, and it was administered throughout the vegetative phase. The second solution, designed for the reproductive stage, comprised cow dung, Glyricidia leaves, eggshells, and banana peels. Various parameters were measured, including the number of leaves at 12 Weeks After Planting (WAP) (10.27±0.45), root length (35.53±3.22 cm), and fresh fruit weights (41.00 ±2.31 g), which exhibited superior results in comparison to the other treatments. While the total fruit count per plant remained below average in all treatments, the organic fertilizer solutions demonstrated better overall performance, hinting at their potential as commercially available fertilizers. Nonetheless, further investigations are essential to evaluate their ability to enhance tomato fruits' nutritional and flavor attributes.