Comparative Growth Analysis and Fruit Quality of Two Varieties of Tomato under Hand Weeding and Pendimethalin Herbicide

Abstract

Tomato is an important vegetable crop having high nutritional value. Diff erent agronomical practices have been used to increase its quality. Hence, fi eld experiments were carried out to evaluate the infl uence of fi ve weed control methods (Pendimethalin at 4 lha-1, Pendimethalin at 4 lha-1 + one hand weeding at 6 WAT, two hand weeding at 3 and 6 WAT, weed free and weedy check) on the biological productivity and nutritional compositions of two varieties of tomato (Roma V.F. and Tropimech). The weed control methods were arranged following randomized complete block (RCB) design in split-plot arrangement. The results showed that out of the fourteen weed species encountered six weed species: Euphorbia heterophylla, Tridax procumbens, Phyllantus amarus, Tithonia diversifolia, Gomphrena celosioides and Ageratum conyzoides were found to be preponderant. Pendimethalin at 4lha-1 + one hand weeding at 6 WAT and two hand weeding at 3 and 6 WAT showed better weed reduction (53-68%), when compared to sole application of Pendimethalin at 4lha-1(32-41%). The weed free check was the most eff ective in controlling weeds (96-99%). Growth attributes such as plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, and aboveground dry weight, relative growth rate and net assimilation rate, the number of fruit per plant and harvest index were signifi cantly enhanced in all the weed control methods compared to the weedy check. Higher values of the afore mentioned growth attributes were signifi cantly higher under Pendimethalin at 4 lha-1 + one hand weeding at 6 WAT when compared to other weed control treatments. The biochemical constituents such as vitamin C, lycopene and β-carotene and all the proximate composition except fi bre were signifi cantly higher in sole Pendimethalin at 4lha-1and Pendimethalin at 4lha-1 + one hand weeding 6 WAT than other weed control methods. Growth and yield were higher in variety Roma V.F. than Tropimech, while biochemical constituents were found to be higher in Tropimech than Roma V.F. Pendimetalin at 4lha-1 + one hand weeding 6 WAT was found to be eff ective in weed suppression with positive infl uence on the biological productivity and nutritional compositions of the two studied varieties.