Different data on the growth and physiological traits were recorded during the experiment. Data were collected from each plant described below.
3.13.1. Plant height (cm)
Plant height was measured in centimeter (cm) by a meter scale at 20, 40 and 60 DAT (days after transplanting) from the point of attachment of growing media up to the top of the trunk.
3.13.2. Number of branches per plant
Total number of branches per plant was counted from the plant of each of unit pot.
Data recorded at 20 days interval started from the 20 days of planting up to 60 days.
3.13.3. Number of leaves per plant
Total number of leaves per plant was counted from the plant of each of unit pot. Data was recorded at 20 days interval started from the 20 days of planting up to 60 days.
20 3.13.4. Length of leaflet
The length of leaflet was measured with a scale from the neck of the leaf to the bottom of 10 selected leaves from each plant and their average was taken in cm.
3.13.5. Breadth of leaflet
The breadth of leaflet was measured with a scale from 10 selected leaves from each plant and their average was taken in cm.
3.13.6. Chlorophyll contents (SPAD value)
Leaf chlorophyll content as SPAD values were measured from the youngest fully expanded leaf in the third position from the tip by a portable chlorophyll meter (SPAD-502, Konica Minolta Sensing, Inc., Japan). The SPAD-502 chlorophyll meter can estimate total chlorophyll amounts in the leaves of a variety of species with a high degree of accuracy and is a nondestructive method. Data was recorded at 25 days interval started from the 25 days of planting up to 75 days.
3.13.7. Days to first flowering
The date of flower blooming was recorded from the number of days of 1st the date of flower blooming after transplanting.
3.13.8. Number of flower cluster per plant
Total number of flower cluster of individual plant was recorded.
3.13.9. Number of flowers per plant
Total number of flower cluster of individual plant was recorded.
3.13.10. Days of first fruit initiation
The date of fruiting was recorded from the number of days of 1st the date of fruiting after transplanting of cherry tomato.
21 3.13.11. Number of fruits per plant
Number of fruits per plant were counted at 75 (First harvesting), 120 (Second harvesting) and 180 (Third harvesting) DAT. All the fruits of each plant were counted separately. Only the smallest young fruits at the growing point of the plant were excluded from the counting and the average number was recorded.
3.13.12. Fruit length
The length of fruit was measured with a slide caliper from the neck of the fruit to the bottom of 5 individual fruits from individual plant three times and their average was taken and expressed in cm.
3.12.13. Fruit diameter
Diameter of fruit was measured at middle portion of 5 individual fruits from individual plant three times with a slide caliper. Their average was taken and expressed in cm.
3.12.14. Individual fruit weight
The fresh weight of 5 individual fruits from individual plant was recorded by an electric balance three times and the mean value was calculated by the following formula:
Individual fruit weight =Total weight of fruits per plants Total number of fruits per plant 3.13.15. Total soluble solids (% Brix)
Total soluble solid (TSS) content of pineapple pulp was estimated by using Abbe refractometer. A drop of pulp solution squinted from the fruit pulp was placed on the prism of refractometer. Percent TSS was obtained from direct reading of the instrument.
22 3.13.16. Yield per plant
Yield of cherry tomato per plant was recorded as the whole fruit per plant harvested in different times and was expressed in kilogram.
3.13.17 Economic analysis
The cost of production was analyzed in order to find out the most economic treatment of different doses of boron and mulching. All input cost including the cost for lease of land and interests on running capital was computed for the cost of production. The interests were calculated @ 13% in simple interest rate. The market price of tomato was considered for estimating the cost and return. Analyses were done according to the procedure determining by Alam et al., (1989). The benefit cost ratio (BCR) was calculated as follows:
Gross return Benefit cost ration (BCR)=
Total cost of production 3.14. Statistical analysis
The data in respect of yield, quality and yield components were statistically analyzed to find out the significance of the experimental results. The means of all the treatments were calculated and the analysis of variance for each of the characters under study was performed by “F” test. The difference among the treatment means were evaluated by Least Significant Difference (LSD) test and interpretation of the results were determined by Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) according to Gomez and Gomes, (1984).
23 CHAPTER IV
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 4.1. Plant height
4.1.1 Effect of mulches on plant height
Plant height was recorded at different days after transplanting (DAT). Different mulches showed significant variation on plant height at different days after transplanting (DAT) under the present trail (Appendix II and Figure 1). The maximum (62.25 cm) plant height was recorded from M2 (Black polythene) which was followed by M1 (Rice straw) and the minimum plant height (47.67 cm) was obtained from control i.e. no mulches at 20 DAT. On the other hand, at 40 DAT, the maximum plant height (126.96 cm) was recorded from M2 which was followed by M1
(107.78 cm), while the minimum plant height (96.08 cm) was obtained from control (M0). The maximum plant height (178.67 cm) was recorded from M2 which was closely followed by M1 treatment, while the minimum plant height (125.68 cm) was found from control at 60 DAT. Plant height is one of the most important parameters, which is positively correlated with the yield of cherry tomato (Asri et al., 2015). The different mulching materials like black polythene retained higher soil moisture and temperature compared to other mulching materials and the control. On the contrary, without mulch, plants suffered from water stress and could not accomplish full vegetative growth. Pinder et al. (2016) reported that mulching helped to increase plant height in cherry tomato. They found that plant height of cherry tomato under black polythene was height (74.44 cm), whereas minimum was observed in control (51.78 cm).
24
[M0= No mulch, M1= Rice straw, M2= Black polythene]
4.1.2 Effect of boron on plant height
There was significant variation among different doses of boron in respect of plant height at different stages of growth (Appendix II and Figure 2). The maximum (59.22 cm) plant height was recorded from B3 (2.5 ppm B) which was followed by B4 (3.5 ppm B) and the minimum plant height (44.89 cm) was found in control treatment at 20 DAT. On the other hand, at 40 DAT, the maximum plant height (127.78 cm) was recorded from B3, while the minimum plant height (95.78 cm) was obtained from control (B1). The maximum plant height (180.67 cm) was recorded from B3, while the minimum plant height (147.72 cm) was found from control at 60 DAT. It is clear that all boron levels maintained a lead over control with regard to plant height. This corroborates the results of Singh et al. (2017) obtained the maximum plant height (62.74 cm, 94.44 cm, 144.29 cm 146.55 cm and 148.44 cm) at (30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 DAT) from T9 treatment (B @ 2.0 g/l).
47.67
96.08
125.68
52.17
107.78
172.26
62.25
126.96
178.67
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200
20 DAT 40 DAT 60 DAT
Plant height (cm)
Days after transplanting (DAT)
Figure 1. Effect of different mulches on plant height in cherry tomato at different Days After Transplanting (DAT)
M0 M1 M2
25
B1= 0.5 ppm B, B2= 1.5 ppm B, B3= 2.5 ppm B, B4= 3.5 ppm B]
4.1.3 Combine effect of mulches and boron on plant height
Combine effect of mulches and boron also showed significant differences of the plant height of cherry tomato at 20, 40, 60 DAT and average (Table 1 and Appendix II). At 20 DAT, the longest plant (65.33 cm) was recorded from the M2B3 (2.5 ppm Boron with black polythene mulch) treatment while, the shortest plant (33.33 cm) from M0B1
treatment. Similarly, at 40 DAT, the longest plant height (138.33 cm) was recorded from the M2B3 treatment which was statistically similar with the M2B4 (3.5 ppm Boron with black polythene) and M1B3 (2.5 ppm Boron with black polythene) treatment while, the shortest plant height (73.33 cm) was recorded from M0B1
treatment. At 60 DAT, the tallest plant (191.76 cm) was recorded from M2B3
treatment combination and the shortest plant (95.67 cm) was obtained from M0B1
treatment combination which was statistically similar with the M0B2 (1.5 ppm Boron with no mulch) treatment. In this study boron 2.5 ppm with black polythene mulch possibly maintained higher moisture content and more uniform temperature
44.89
95.78
147.72
54.56
106.46
148.07 59.22
127.78
180.67
57.44
111
158.96
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200
20 DAT 40 DAT 60 DAT
Plant height (cm)
Days after transplanting (DAT)
Figure 2. Effect of different levels of boron fertilizer on plant height of cherry tomato at different Days After Transplanting
(DAT)
B1 B2 B3 B4
26
distribution in soil making more nutrient elements available for increasing plant growth.
Table 1: Interaction effect of different mulches and boron on plant height of cherry tomato at different days after transplanting
Interactions Plant height (cm) at different days after transplanting (DAT)
20 DAT 40 DAT 60 DAT
M0B1 33.33 h 73.33 d 95.67 d
M0B2 41.67 g 84.67 cd 103.33 d
M0B3 56.33 d 115.33 b 172.76 ab
M0B4 48.67 e 96.00 c 167.00 b
M1B0 55.67 d 110.00 b 170.77 ab
M1B2 44.67 f 92.00 c 130.76 c
M1B3 62.67 abc 133.33 a 177.33 ab
M1B4 59.67 c 118.00 b 173.77 ab
M2B1 55.33 d 109.33 b 170.00 ab
M2B2 61.33 bc 118.00 b 173.76 ab
M2B3 65.33 a 138.33 a 191.76 a
M2B4 63.67 ab 134.33 a 179.06 ab
CV (%) 3.29 6.21 7.63
LSD (0.05) 2.95 11.34 20.07
In a column means having similar letter(s) are statistically identical and those having dissimilar letter(s) differ significantly as per 0.05 level of probability.
[M0= No mulch, M1= Rice straw, M2= Black polythene, B1= 0.5 ppm B, B2= 1.5 ppm B, B3= 2.5 ppm B, B4= 3.5 ppm B]