Assessing the Singular Effects of Integrated Silicon Supplementation on Growth and Development Attributes of Tomato var. SL-12: A Nutrient Management Perspective

The study, titled “Assessing the Singular Effects of Integrated Silicon Supplementation on Growth and Development Attributes of Tomato var. SL-12: A Nutrient Management Perspective” was conducted at the Hi-Tech Horticulture Unit, Department of Horticulture, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, MPUAT, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India from October 2020 to March 2021. Fourteen treatments, combining Recommended Dose of Fertilizer (RDF), Farmyard Manure (FYM) and varying Silicon doses through Diatomaceous Earth, were evaluated in a Randomized Block Design with three replications. The investigation assessed the effects on tomato growth, yield, quality and residual soil properties. Treatment T9 (RDF at 120:80:80 kg/ha N: P: K + 25 t/ha FYM + 100 kg/ha Silicon) significantly outperformed others, recording the highest plant height (62.94 cm at 60 DAT, 91.10 cm at 90 DAT, 114.33 cm at 120 DAT), leaf area index (4.54), number of branches (8.43), stem girth (3.44 cm), days to anthesis (42.23) and days to harvest (69.45). These results highlight the synergistic benefits of integrating RDF, FYM and Silicon, which enhanced nutrient availability, photosynthetic efficiency and soil fertility. The findings underscore the potential of Silicon-supplemented nutrient management for improving tomato productivity and sustaining soil health, offering a viable strategy for sustainable agriculture.