Synergistic Role of Micronutrients and Plant Growth Regulators on Yield, Soil Fertility and Nutrient Uptake in Tomato

A field experiment entitled “Interaction Effects of Micronutrients and Plant Growth Regulators on Growth, Yield Dynamics and Nutrient Uptake in Tomato” was carried out during the kharif season of 2024–25 at the College of Horticulture, Bagalkot, using the tomato variety ‘Abhilash’. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design comprising ten treatments replicated three times. The treatments consisted of different combinations of micronutrients (Zn, Fe, Cu and B) and plant growth regulators (GA₃ and NAA) applied through foliar spray. The combined application of these components significantly enhanced vegetative growth, flowering behaviour, yield attributes and fruit quality compared to the sole application of the recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF). Among the treatments, T₉ (GA₃ @ 60 ppm + NAA @ 60 ppm + ZnSO₄ @ 0.015% + CuSO₄ @ 0.015% + FeSO₄ @ 0.015% + Boric acid @ 0.015%) recorded the highest plant height (115.22 cm), branches per plant (18.68), dry matter accumulation (212.32 g), earliness in 50% flowering (32.94 days), clusters per plant (13.92), flowers per cluster (4.96), fruits per plant (42.62), average fruit weight (88.83 g), fruit length (4.44 cm), fruit width (6.29 cm) and fruit yield (3.80 kg/plant; 181.42 kg/plot; 74.04 t/ha). The same treatment also improved total soluble solids (5.27 °Brix), ascorbic acid content (31.66 mg/100 g) and achieved the highest benefit–cost ratio (3.19). Overall, the foliar application of micronutrients (0.015%) in combination with plant growth regulators (60 ppm) proved most effective for enhancing growth, yield, quality and nutrient uptake in tomato cv. Abhilash.