Improving the growth, yield, and quality of heirloom tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) using plant support, graded organic and inorganic fertilizers

Optimization of Heirloom Tomato Cultivation with Staking and Nutrition

Downloads

Published

2026-03-31

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58993/ijh/2026.83.1.8

Keywords:

Kashi tomato, nutrient management, staking, trellising, fruit yield
Dimensions Badge

Issue

Vol. 83 No. 01 (2026): Indian Journal of Horticulture

Section

Research Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Sai Prasanna G; V Murali; Syed Irfan Ali; Ashwini C

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Authors

  • Sai Prasanna G Horticultural Research Station, Sri Konda Laxman Telangana Horticultural University, Adilabad 500030, India
  • V Murali Horticultural Research Station, Sri Konda Laxman Telangana Horticultural University, Adilabad-504001
  • Syed Irfan Ali Horticultural Research Station, Sri Konda Laxman Telangana Horticultural University, Adilabad 500030, India
  • Ashwini C Horticultural Polytechnic, Sri Konda Laxman Telangana Horticultural University, Adilabad 500030, India

Abstract

Adilabad district is endowed with rich agro-biodiversity, and several heirloom cultivars of vegetables, such as Kashi tomato, are still cultivation to a limited extent. Compared to modern hybrids, realizing the full potential of the Kashi heirloom tomato cultivar requires a thorough understanding of its specific needs, particularly regarding plant support and nutrient management, as it is more susceptible to fruit rot and physiological disorders such as cat face, blossom end rot, sun scald, and radial cracking. A field experiment was conducted using different plant support systems, graded levels of organic manures along with recommended doses of fertilisers to improve fruit yield and quality. The study demonstrated that keeping heirloom tomato plants off the ground through staking or trellising enhances fruit yield and quality. The trellis plant support system, with the application of 25% Nitrogen (N) through Farm Yard Manure (FYM) + 75% of the recommended dose of chemical fertilizers (RDF), resulted in a significantly higher fruit yield of 7.15 kg per plant and reduced the non-marketable fruit yield to 0.25 kg per plant furthermore, fruit quality improved with the application of 50% N through FYM + 50% RDF, showing enhanced fruit size and total soluble solids.

How to Cite

Sai Prasanna G, V Murali, Syed Irfan Ali, & Ashwini C. (2026). Improving the growth, yield, and quality of heirloom tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) using plant support, graded organic and inorganic fertilizers: Optimization of Heirloom Tomato Cultivation with Staking and Nutrition. Indian Journal of Horticulture, 83(01), 54–61. https://doi.org/10.58993/ijh/2026.83.1.8

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

1. Ahamad, S., Asrey, R., Menaka, M., Vinod, B. R., Kumar, D. and Balubhai, T. P. 2025. 24-Epibrassinolide treatment boosts bioactive compound preservation, delays softening and extends shelf life of cherry tomatoes during storage. Food Chem, 145051.

2. Ahamad, S., Asrey, R., Singh, A. K., Sethi, S., Joshi, A., Vinod, B. R. and Choupdar, G. K. 2024. Melatonin treatment enhances bioactive compound retention, antioxidant activity and shelf-life of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) during cold storage. Int. J. Food Sci. Technol., 59(10): 7918-7931.

3. Ahamad, S., Asrey, R., Vinod, B. R., Meena, N. K., Menaka, M., Prajapati, U. and Saurabh, V. 2024. Maintaining postharvest quality and enhancing shelf-life of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) using brassinosteroids: A novel approach. S. Afr. J. Bot., 169: 402-412.

4. Ahamad, S., Asrey, R., Vinod, B. R., Menaka, M., Vargheese, E., Prasad, K. and Kumar, D. 2025. Exogenous melatonin application retains bioactive compounds, enhances antioxidant activity, reduces softening and prolongs shelf life of cherry tomato (Solanum lycopersicon var. Cerasiformaeae) during cold storage. J. Future Foods.

5. Alam, M.S., Islam, N., Ahmad, S., Hossein, M.I. and Islam, M.R. 2016. Effect of different staking methods and stem pruning on yield and quality of summer tomato. Bangladesh J. Agric. Res., 41(3): 419-432.

6. Ali, M.K. and Moniruzzaman, M. 2017. Effect of stem pruning and staking on growth and yield of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.). J. Agroecol. Nat. Resour. Manag., 4: 1-4.

7. Arancon, N.Q., Edwards, C.A., Babenko, A., Cannon, J., Galvis, P. and Metzger, J.D. 2008. Influences of vermicomposts, produced by earthworms and microorganisms from cattle manure, food waste, and paper waste, on the germination, growth, and flowering of petunias in the greenhouse. Appl. Soil Ecol., 39(1): 91-99.

8. Chaudhari, V.M., Barot, D.C. and Nisha, N. 2023. Staking: An important cultural practice for indeterminate tomato. Agric. Mag., 2(10): 54-56.

9. Ghorbani, R., Koocheki, A., Jahan, M. and Asadi, G.A. 2008. Impact of organic amendments and compost extracts on tomato production and storability in agroecological systems. Agron. Sustain. Dev., 28: 307-311.

10. Haleema, B., Shah, S. T., Basit, A., Hikal, W. M., Arif, M., Khan, W. and Fhatuwani, M. 2024. Comparative effects of calcium, boron, and zinc inhibiting physiological disorders, improving yield and quality of Solanum lycopersicum. Biol., 13(10): 766.

11. Jafar, M., Gezu, D., Girma, W. and Gebisa, B. 2024. Effect of staking, mulching and organic manure on tomato yield and yield components at Fedis, East Hararghe Zone. Int. J. Agric. Sci. Technol., 4(1): 18-26.

12. Lang, K. M. and Nair, A. 2019. Effect of tomato rootstock on hybrid and heirloom tomato performance in a Midwest high tunnel production system. Hort .Sci., 54(5): 840-845.

13. Laxmi, P.R., Saravanan, S. and Naik, M.L. 2015. Effect of organic manures and inorganic fertilizers on plant growth, yield, fruit quality and shelf life of tomato (Solanum lycopersicon L.) CV PKM-1. Int. J. Agric. Sci. Res., 5(2): 7-11.

14. Mamun-Al-M, M.S., Methela, N.J. and Rahman, M.H. 2019. Influence of organic and inorganic fertilizer on growth and yield performance of tomato. J. Noakhali Sci. Technol. Univ., 3: 15-19.

15. 15. Pandravada, S.R., Sivaraj, N., Jairam, R., Sunil, N., Chakrabarty, S.K., Charan, R.E., Ramesh, P. and Bisht, I.S. 2015. Agri-biodiversity maintained on-farm by ethnic groups in peninsular India: Legacy of landrace sustainability in cereals and millets. Indian J. Plant Genet. Resour., 28(3): 335-344.

16. 16. Prativa, K.C. and Bhattarai, B.P. 2011. Effect of integrated nutrient management on the growth, yield, and soil nutrient status in tomato. Nepal J. Sci. Technol., 12: 23-28.

17. 17. Rashid, M.H.A., Rahman, M.F., Karim, M.R., Saha, R. and Hossain, M.I. 2022. Improving growth, yield and quality of cherry tomato (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme) using staking and mixed fertilization. J. Agric. Food Environ., 3(3): 77-85.

18. 18. Ronga, D., Caradonia, F., Vitti, A. and Francia, E. 2021. Agronomic comparisons of heirloom and modern processing tomato genotypes cultivated in organic and conventional farming systems. Agronomy, 11(2): 349.

19. 19. Singh, R. and Asrey, R. 2005. Integrated nutrient management in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) under the semi-arid region of Punjab. Veg. Sci., 32(2): 194-195.

20. 20. Treadwell, D.D., Amy, H.S., Thabile, P.N., Robert, C.H., Wanda, L.L., Teresa, O., Corstiana, P. and Catherine, J.R. 2008. Yield, chemical composition and eating quality of heirloom tomatoes grown in the subtropical climate of Florida. Proc. Fla. State Hortic. Soc., 121: 170- 174.

21. 21. Wubetie, Y. and Wubetu, A. 2025. Effects of staking techniques on growth and yield of tomato varieties in northwestern Ethiopia. Sci. Rep., 15(1): 20011.

Similar Articles

<< < 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.