Impact of Sugar Industry Effluent on Productivity of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. Var. Navodaya)

Abstract

Five concentrations of sugar  industry effluent was given in irrigation medium i.e. 20 per cent as T₁, 40 per cent T₂, 60 per cent as T₃, 80 per cent as T₄ and 100 per cent as T₅. The yield characters’ studied the diameter of flower, length of anther, pollen fertility, number of flowers per inflorescence, number of inflorescence per plant, number of fruits per plant, diameter of fruit, number of seeds per fruits, average of fruit and productivity per plant. Diameter of flower was found to increase with the treatment of sugar industry effluent and maximum increase was recorded as 7.49 per cent in T₃ treatment. Maximum increase in the length of anther was noted as 23.53 per cent in T3 treatment. Pollen fertility was almost unaffected with the treatment of sugar industry effluent a little increase of 3.47 per cent was recorded in T₂ treatment. Number of flower per inflorescence was also found to increase and maximum increase was recorded in T₃ treatment and it was 15.69 per cent as compared to control. Number of inflorescence per plant was also affected with the treatment of sugar industry effluent and T₃ treatment where plant received 60 per cent concentration of sugar industry effluent showed maximum increase of 22.07 per cent as compared to control. Number of fruits per inflorescence was  found to increase with the increase of concentration of sugar industry effluent and maximum increase was recorded in T₃ treatment and it was 28.89 per cent as compared to control. Diameter of fruit was found to increase and maximum increase was noted as 22.13 per cent over control in T₃ treatment. Number of seeds per fruit and average weight of the fruit were also found to increase  with the increase of sugar industry effluent up to 60 per cent and maximum increase was recorded as 29.66 per cent and 53.71 per cent respectively, over control. Fruit productivity per plant was found to be  affected by the treatment of sugar industry effluent and maximum increase of 98.16 per cent was recorded in T₃ treatment. It was observed that T₃ treatment where plants were irrigated with 60 per cent concentration of sugar industry effluent was to found to enhance the maximum in almost all the yield parameters taken in to consideration. It is concluded that the concentration up to 60 per cent favours the yield characteristics of lycopersicon esculentum Mill. Var. Navodaya. The concentration above 60 per cent showed toxic effect on almost all the yield parameter including fruit productivity of tomato crop.