Journal of Environmental Biology

Unlocking carbon dioxide evolution potential of organic amendments and its impact on tomato yield

K.N. Pallavi¹, S.R. Isaac²* and R.V. Manju³     

¹Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University, Hyderabad-500 030, India

²Department of Agronomy, Regional Agricultural Research Station, Kumarakom , Kottayam-686 563, India

³Department of Plant Physiology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram- 695 522, India

Received: 18 September 2024                   Revised: 16 January 2025                   Accepted: 01 July 2025

*Corresponding Author Email : sheebarebecca@yahoo.co.in                     *ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1878-5865

Abstract

Aim: The study aimed to assess the possible carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from organic amendments that are commonly used in agriculture and the impact of elevated CO₂ (eCO₂), on the growth and yield in tomato.

Methodology: The investigation was carried out at College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Kerala Agricultural University during November 2021 to March 2022, to characterise and assess the CO₂ evolution from 10 commonly used organic amendments in agriculture in a Completely Randomized Design, replicated thrice and to evaluate the response of tomato to eCO₂ from organic sources in field.

Results: Characterisation of organic manures revealed that groundnut cake had superior N, P and K contents, and rice straw had the lowest nutrient contents and the widest C:N ratio (90.9:1). Carbon dioxide evolution was found maximum (344.43 mg of CO₂ 100 g^-1 soil) in poultry manure and it remained lowest in chemical fertilizer (181.60 mg of CO₂ 100 g^-1 soil). Under eCO₂ conditions, tomato failed to set fruits indicating the negative impact of enhanced temperatures associated with eCO₂ on reproductive behaviour in tomato.

Interpretation: The study has brought to light the trend of CO₂ evolution with organic manure addition in soil. Organic nutrition in tomato under the trench system of eCO₂ concentration revealed that ensuing higher temperatures adversely affected the reproductive behaviour of tomato plants, leading to poor fruit sets.

Key words: CO₂ emissions, C:N ratio, eCO₂, Organic amendments, Tomato

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