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The over-use of synthetic chemical fertilizer has an adverse effect on humans. To overcome this issue, there is a need for organic farming. The present study is intended for identifying the possibilities of microalgal (Chlorella vulgaris) application on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) cultivation as a suitable biofertilizer as well as biostimulant. The application of Chlorella vulgaris by foliar spray method, soil drench method with and without cowdung and control (untreated). Soil is suitable for tomato cultivation according to the soil analysis. Laboratory cultured Chlorella vulgaris enriched with carbohydrate (40.75±0.55), protein (29.56±0.72), lipids (30.20±0.25), total chlorophyll (0.531±0.42), carotenoids (0.261±0.35) and also other elements such as carbon (26.03±0.21), nitrogen (4.18±0.48), sodium (5.63±0.54) and potassium (6.94±0.17). Mixed treatment of cowdung with C. vulgaris shows enhanced growth than other groups. The higher concentration (100%) of foliar spray, C. vulgaris by soil drench and C. vulgaris + cowdung, elicits fruit length of about 8.8 ± 0.36, 10.5 ± 0.61 and 11.7 ± 0.35 cm, fruit diameter of about 13.3 ± 0.73, 14.2 ± 0.24 and 16.7 ± 0.31 cm, number of seeds/fruit of about 89±0.45, 118±0.98 and 153±0.96 g and seed weight/fruit of about 4.5 ± 0.14, 5.2 ± 0.19 and 6.5 ± 0.28 g respectively. The quality of the tomato was attributed to the increased total soluble solid of about 5.78±0.39, 6.27±0.92 and 7.09±0.75 g/100 g, total soluble sugar of about 4.30±0.76, 5.37±0.57 and 7.40±0.90 g/100 g, l-Ascorbic acid of about 14.6 ± 0.86, 17.9 ± 0.93 and 19.23±0.69 g/100 g, total protein of about 4.88±0.36, 5.82±0.88 and 6.37±0.23 g/100 g and moisture of about 94.1 ± 0.81, 95.5 ± 055 and 96.5 ± 0.42 g/100 g in foliar spray, C. vulgaris by soil drench and C. vulgaris + cowdung methods of applications respectively. There is a significant increase in mineral content such as phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium in treated fruits as compared to control. Similarly shelf life (days) of foliar spray (5.0 ± 0.19), soil drench (6.0 ± 0.55), mixed treatment (7.0 ± 0.16) was increased than control (4 ± 0.65). Among three treatments, C. vulgaris + cowdung showed better results than other treatment. Soil drench method of application shows better outcomes than foliar spray application. Microalgae Chlorella vulgaris can be applied as biofertilizer/biostimulants in tomato cultivation by replacing conventional chemical fertilizer.
Suchithra et al. (Thu,) studied this question.