Physico-Chemical Properties and Plant Growth Characteristics of Tomatoes Grown Using Different Media

Soilless culture is a technique of crop production using no soil. The main reason towards need for soil to soilless culture for horticultural crops is the problem related to proliferation of soil borne pathogen in the soil cultivation. Recent research studies reported that commercial production of greenhouse vegetables with soilless media has paved the way for reduction in economic losses caused by soil-borne pathogens. In this context, the present study was initiated to identify suitable substrate mixes for soilless culture. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design. There were fifteen different media levels including control, with three replications. Crop Tomato TNAU hybrid CO3 were assessed for the mean performance in respect of growth characters namely shoot length, root length, germination percent and vigour index. The treatment Vermicompost: Coir pith (3:1) was found to have the highest value for growth characters for the crop. With regard to the physical and chemical properties, all combination media showed optimal range for crop growth. Further a cost analysis was made to find the suitable media based on cost aspects comparing reduction in vigour index and cost of media with that of best media. Treatment T7 (Vermicompost: coir pith (2:1)) and T6 (Vermicompost: Coir pith (1:3) were found to be the best media considering above factors.