Effect of Salinity Stress on Plant Growth, Yield, and Taste Components in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)

Abstract

Tomato cultivation in Sri Lanka faces challenges due to salinity stress, and it affects productivity and quality. This study investigates the impact of salinity stress on tomato growth, yield, and fruit attributes. Three treatments were investigated which are T1: Control- level (0.6 g/l NaCl), T2: Additional - level (3.0 g/l NaCl), and T3: Excess - level (6.5 g/l NaCl). and plant growth, fruit parameters, and yield were analyzed. Plant height and leaf growth were decreased with time by excessive salinity stress, while fruit quality (pH) was increased. Yield per plant was affected, with excess salinity leading to lower yield (264.8 ± 13.6 g) while resulting in the lowest fruit weight (23.2 ± 0.27 g). These findings provide insight into how salinity stress affects tomato cultivation, which is important for sustainable agricultural practices. Notably, excess salinity improved fruit quality, despite adverse effects on growth and yield.