Effect of Different Substrates on Vegetative Growth Characters of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)

Pot experiment was carried out twice to evaluate vegetative growth characters of tomato grown in different substrates and to find out the most suitable substrates as a tomato growing medium during November 2018 to January 2020. Both experiments were laid out in randomized complete block (RCB) design with three replications. Substrates used were; Sand (T1), Rice husk (T2), Burnt rice husk (T3), Biochar (T4), Biochar: Sand, 1:1 (T5), Biochar: Rice husk, 1:1 (T6) and Biochar: Burnt rice husk, 1:1 (T7). The tomato variety used was Sinkhayanchin - 2. In both seasons, there was no significant effect of substrates on plant height. However, number of leaf and stem diameter were influenced by the substrates. Among the substrates, sand gave the highest stem diameter which is vital for the subsequent crop growth. Maximum shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, root fresh weight and dry weight were also recorded from sand and the substrates containing biochar. According to the results, sand and substrates containing biochar are good component for the vegetative growth characters of tomat