Effect of intercropping on growth and yield of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

Abstract

The investigation was carried out to “Study the effect of intercropping on growth and yield of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)” at a farmer’s field at Sorakalnatham, Natrampalli taluk, Tirupattur district, (Tamil Nadu) during January - May 2019. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with ten treatments replicated thrice. The treatments comprised of three intercrops viz., radish, small onion and vegetable cowpea, and three levels of recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) viz., 100, 125 and 150 % along with sole crop of tomato under 100 % RDF. The results indicated that the maximum values for growthattributes viz., plant height at 30, 60 and 90 DAT (48.5, 63.5 and 92.1 cm, respectively), primary branches/plant (11.5), leaf area index (3.58) and yield components like fruits plant-1 (35.5), single fruit weight (82.9 g) and weight of fruits plant-1 (2.9 kg) were recorded in the plots which received 25 t FYM ha-1 + 150 % RDF in tomato + small onion intercropping system. This was followed by thetomato + vegetable cowpea intercropping system which received 25 t FYM ha-1 + 150 % RDF.