Journal of Environmental Biology

Bio-waste from tobacco industry as tailored organic fertilizer for improving yields and nutritional values of tomato crop

 

Shivani Chaturvedi*¹, D.K. Upreti¹, D.K. Tandon², Anuja Sharma² and Abhay Dixit²

 

¹Lichenology Laboratory, National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR), Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow - 226 001, India

²Central Institute for Subtropical Horiticulture, Rehmankheda, Lucknow - 227 107, India

 

(Received: November 04, 2006; Revised received: April 25, 2007; Re-revised received: May 02, 2007; Accepted: May 26, 2007)

 

Abstract: The dried tobacco waste was mixed in proportions of 1 %, 2 % and 3% in soil and filled in earthen pots of 6kg capacity. Three replicate pots for each soil concentration were used. Tomato saplings of cultivar Bezosheetal were transplanted age of 20 days (signifying stage before flowering), 25 days (signifying stage at the start of flowering) and 45 day (signifying just at the onset of fruiting). The morphological parameters like plant height, number of leaf, flower plant^-1, number of fruits and yield plant^-1 were recorded. Nutrient parameters like moisture, total soluble solids (TSS), acidity, vitamin C, reducing sugar, proteins, pectin and lycopene were analyzed in tomato fruits. Experiments revealed that the yield of tomato fruit and critical nutritional parameters showed significant increase. For higher yield (183 g plant^-1) of tomato, the best option is the use of 3% tobacco waste after 45 days of transplant. Alternatively, use of 2% tobacco waste with 45 days of transplant provides a higher quality tomato. The yield obtained here would be significantly higher than control but not as high as with 3% tobacco waste.

 

Key words:?? Tobacco waste, Organic fertilizer, Tomato, Nutrient, Bio-waste

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