Effects of blended polyvinyl alcohol/urea on the growth, yield and chemical content of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L. Mill)

Abstract

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L. Mill) is one of the most important solanaceous vegetables widely cultivated in the world. The growth yield and chemical content of tomato (lycopersicon esculentum  Mill) treatment with nitrogen fertilizers (PU) were investigated. Nitrogen fertilizers (PU) were based on polyvinyl alcohol (P) blended with three different contents of urea (U) (PU35, N: 8.45%; PU50, N: 34.1%, and PU65, 44.04%). In each of the five replicates of the treatments, 500 ml (1% w/v) of PU was applied directly to the soil. The first treatment was given at 15-day-old seedlings. Thereafter, the treatments were given at intervals of 15 days (6 times) each until 90 days. Final harvest was at 112 days. Data was analyzed using variance analysis (ANOVA) and compared using control without fertilizer. The vegetative growth, leaf and fruit chemical composition, and flowering and fruiting of tomato responded positively to PU fertilizer compared to control plants. However, application of PU50 (nitrogen content 34.1%) gave a significant increase in vegetative growth, chlorophylls a and b, flower and fruit characteristics more than PU35, PU65 and control