Bio-diesel waste as tailored organic fertilizer for improving yields and nutritive values of lycopercicum esculatum (tomato) crop

Abstract

The present study focused on utilization of the de-oiled Jatropha cake, a bio-waste from the bio diesel extraction process, as organic fertilizer. Tomato crop was subjected to different treatments comprising varying composition of the Jatropha cake fertilizer, applied at varying age of plant life-cycle. The impact on yield, morphological and nutritional parameters was studied. Results revealed that an optimal (2-3 % by weight) dose applied on the soil at the time of onset of flowering (around 45 days), significantly enhanced the yield along with improvements in morphological parameters. There were significant improvements in key nutrients viz. protein, vitamin C and reducing sugars. High value of key nutrients like TSS (total soluble solid), vitamin C, proteins, reducing sugar and tomato fruit yield were obtained with soil + 3% cake mixed in 60 day transplant. These results indicate that composted de-oiled Jatropha cake has tremendous potential of being utilized in a cost effective way as tailored organic fertilizer, as a replacement of chemical fertilizers.