Assessing the Singular Effects of Integrated Silicon Supplementation on Growth and Development Attributes of Tomato var. SL-12: A Nutrient Management Perspective

Assessing the Singular Effects of Integrated Silicon Supplementation on Growth and Development Attributes of Tomato var. 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SL-12: A Nutrient Management Perspective Pavan Kumar Sharma, B.G. Chhipa, Pinki Yadav, Jitendra Gurjar This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6928146/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract The study, titled “Assessing the Singular Effects of Integrated Silicon Supplementation on Growth and Development Attributes of Tomato var. SL-12: A Nutrient Management Perspective” was conducted at the Hi-Tech Horticulture Unit, Department of Horticulture, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, MPUAT, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India from October 2020 to March 2021. Fourteen treatments, combining Recommended Dose of Fertilizer (RDF), Farmyard Manure (FYM) and varying Silicon doses through Diatomaceous Earth, were evaluated in a Randomized Block Design with three replications. The investigation assessed the effects on tomato growth, yield, quality and residual soil properties. Treatment T9 (RDF at 120:80:80 kg/ha N: P: K + 25 t/ha FYM + 100 kg/ha Silicon) significantly outperformed others, recording the highest plant height (62.94 cm at 60 DAT, 91.10 cm at 90 DAT, 114.33 cm at 120 DAT), leaf area index (4.54), number of branches (8.43), stem girth (3.44 cm), days to anthesis (42.23) and days to harvest (69.45). These results highlight the synergistic benefits of integrating RDF, FYM and Silicon, which enhanced nutrient availability, photosynthetic efficiency and soil fertility. The findings underscore the potential of Silicon-supplemented nutrient management for improving tomato productivity and sustaining soil health, offering a viable strategy for sustainable agriculture. Silicon supplementation Tomato growth Nutrient management Integrated fertilization Plant physiology Abiotic stress tolerance and Crop-specific responses Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Introduction Tomato ( Solanum lycopersicon Mill.) is a cornerstone of global agriculture, prized for its economic value, culinary versatility and rich nutritional profile, including vitamins, antioxidants and lycopene (Bvenura & Afolayan, 2020 ). With increasing pressure to boost tomato yield and quality sustainably, research continues to explore innovative nutrient management strategies. Silicon (Si) supplementation has gained prominence as a promising approach, leveraging its ability to enhance plant growth and improve soil physicochemical properties (Laane, 2021 ). Though not deemed essential for plants, silicon’s multifaceted benefits are well-documented in tomato and other crops. Silicon promotes robust growth by strengthening cell walls, enhancing photosynthesis and stimulating cell division (Sheng et al., 2021 ). It also bolsters plant resilience against biotic stresses, such as fungal pathogens and pests and abiotic stresses like drought and salinity (Debona et al., 2022 ; Wang et al., 2023 ). Beyond its direct effects on plants, silicon improves soil structure, nutrient availability and microbial activity, fostering long-term soil fertility (Haynes, 2021 ). This dual action on plant-soil dynamics positions silicon as a critical tool for sustainable nutrient management in tomato cultivation. Despite these insights, the singular impact of silicon supplementation on tomato growth and soil properties remains underexplored. Detailed studies are needed to clarify the mechanisms driving silicon-mediated improvements in plant-soil interactions, particularly in optimizing its integration with other fertilizers (Etesami et al., 2022 ). Such research is vital for developing precise, sustainable strategies to enhance tomato productivity and soil health. This study investigates the singular impact of integrated silicon supplementation on tomato growth and soil physicochemical properties through a soil nutrient management approach. By evaluating key growth parameters—plant height, leaf area index and stem girth—and soil attributes like pH, organic carbon and nutrient levels, we aim to uncover the mechanisms behind silicon’s benefits. Integrating silicon with organic and inorganic fertilizers, this research seeks to provide evidence-based recommendations for improving tomato yield, quality and sustainability, addressing global food security challenges (Cellier et al., 2023 ). Material and Method The experiment, titled “Assessing the Singular Effects of Integrated Silicon Supplementation on Growth and Development Attributes of Tomato var. SL-12: A Nutrient Management Perspective” was conducted from October 2020 to March 2021 at the Hi-Tech Horticulture Unit, Department of Horticulture, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Udaipur, located at 24°35’ N latitude, 74°42’ E longitude and 585.17 meters above mean sea level. The site, situated in Agro-climatic Zone IVa (Sub-humid Southern Plain and Aravali Hills Region) of Rajasthan, features a sub-tropical, semi-arid climate with an average annual rainfall of 830 mm, primarily from the southwest monsoon (mid-June to September). Mean weekly weather data during the experimental period were obtained from AICRP, Meteorology, Department of Agronomy. Soil samples from the experimental site, collected to a depth of 30 cm using a spade, hand hoe and screw auger, were analyzed for fertility and physicochemical properties (pH, EC, organic carbon, N, P, K) as per standard methods, with initial soil characteristics detailed in the experiment included 14 treatments to evaluate integrated nutrient management on tomato growth: T1: Control (no amendments). T2: RDF (120:80:80 kg/ha N:P:K). T3: 25 t/ha FYM. T4: 20 kg/ha Silicon (Diatomaceous Earth). T5: 25 t/ha FYM + 40 kg/ha Silicon (Diatomaceous Earth). T6: RDF + 25.refs t/ha FYM. T7: RDF + 25 t/ha FYM + 60 kg/ha Silicon (Diatomaceous Earth). T8: RDF + 25 t/ha FYM + 80 kg/ha Silicon (Diatomaceous Earth). T9: RDF + 25 t/ha FYM + 100 kg/ha Silicon (Diatomaceous Earth). T10: RDF + 2% Silicon (Diatomaceous Earth). T11: RDF + 25 t/ha FYM + 2% Silicon (Diatomaceous Earth). T12: RDF + 25 t/ha FYM + 4% Silicon (Diatomaceous Earth). T13: RDF + 25 t/ha FYM + 6% Silicon (Diatomaceous Earth). T14: RDF + 25 t/ha FYM + 8% Silicon (Diatomaceous Earth). The tomato variety SL-12, a determinate hybrid with desirable traits like good foliage, red square-round fruits and high shelf life, was used. Nursery preparation began on October 14, 2020, with seeds sown in plastic pro-trays filled with a coco peat, vermiculite and perlite mix. Four-week-old seedlings were transplanted into 4.0 m x 2.5 m plots at a 50 cm x 50 cm spacing in the evening, with basal doses of FYM, RDF (via urea, DAP, MOP) and Silicon applied one week prior, followed by light irrigation. Intercultural operations, including manual weeding, maintained weed-free conditions and hand-picking at horticultural maturity commenced 60–70 days post-transplanting. Growth parameters were recorded from five randomly tagged plants per plot. Plant height was measured at 60, 90 and 120 DAT from the ground to the growing tip. Leaf area index was assessed at the fruiting stage using a portable leaf area meter (Li-3000), expressed as cm²/plant. The number of branches per plant was counted at final harvest, while days to anthesis and harvest were recorded from transplanting to flower initiation and first harvest, respectively. Stem girth was measured 5 cm above the ground using a vernier caliper. Data were statistically analyzed using ANOVA for Randomized Block Design, following methods by Fisher (1954) and Panse and Sukhatme (1967), to evaluate treatment effects. Result and Discussion The study assessed the effects of various treatments on key tomato growth parameters, including plant height measured at 60, 90, and 120 days after transplanting (DAT), leaf area index (LAI), number of branches per plant at final harvest, days to anthesis, days to harvest and stem girth. Findings are detailed in Table 3.1 and illustrated in Figs. 1 , 2 and 3 . Among the treatments, T 9 (Recommended Dose of Fertilizer [RDF] + 25 t ha⁻¹ Farmyard Manure [FYM] + 100 kg ha⁻¹ Silicon via Diatomaceous Earth) consistently outperformed others. At 60 DAT, T 9 achieved a maximum plant height of 62.94 cm, surpassing other treatments by 8.85–14.07% compared to T 14 and T 2 , respectively and maintained this superiority at 90 DAT (91.10 cm) and 120 DAT (114.33 cm). This enhanced height likely resulted from the synergistic effects of RDF’s immediate nutrient supply, FYM’s sustained nutrient release and Silicon’s role in promoting cell division, elongation and erect leaf structures for improved light interception and photosynthesis, as supported by (Jaleel et al., 2009 ; Yoshida et al., 1969 ). Treatment T 9 also recorded the highest LAI (4.54) and number of branches (8.43), reflecting robust foliage and branching, driven by enhanced nutrient uptake, microbial activity from FYM and Silicon’s contribution to chlorophyll content and photosynthetic efficiency (Babu et al., 2017 ; Yin et al., 2014 ). Although T 9 required more days to anthesis (42.23) and harvest (69.45), this delay likely allowed greater biomass accumulation, enhancing crop quality. The significantly larger stem girth (3.44 cm) in T 9 indicated stronger structural support and nutrient transport, bolstered by Silicon’s cell wall deposition (Yoshida et al., 1969 ). In contrast, sole applications of organic manures or inorganic fertilizers were less effective due to slow nutrient release or lack of sustained soil fertility, respectively (Kumar et al., 2020 ). The integrated approach in T 9 optimized soil physicochemical properties, microbial transformation and physiological processes like photosynthesis and stomatal conductance, aligning with findings from (Alam et al., 2010 ; Angadi et al., 2017 ). Silicon further enhanced disease resistance and dry matter accumulation, supporting healthier leaves and higher LAI (Chen et al., 2011 ). These results, consistent with (Kumar et al ., 2013; Gowda et al., 2015 ), highlight the efficacy of combining RDF, FYM and Silicon for improving tomato growth and sustaining soil fertility, offering a promising strategy for sustainable agriculture. Table 1 Effect of Inorganic fertilizers, FYM and Silicon on plant height, leaf area index, number of branches, days to anthesis, stem girth and days to harvest of tomato Treatments Plant height (cm) Leaf area index Number of branches Days to Anthesis Days to harvest Stem girth (cm) 60 DAT 90 DAT 120 DAT T 1 : Control 45.27 66.75 91.71 3.18 5.95 32.53 61.33 2.48 T 2 : RDF (120:80:80 kg/ha NPK) 48.87 72.70 97.85 3.36 6.66 33.89 62.24 2.66 T 3 : 25 tonnes FYM /ha 48.96 71.95 95.43 3.31 6.47 33.14 61.92 2.57 T 4 : 20 kg/ ha Silicon through Diatomaceous earth 46.50 67.83 93.50 3.51 6.48 34.85 61.67 2.56 T 5 : 25 tonnes FYM / ha + 40 kg /ha Silicon through Diatomaceous earth 50.30 74.04 95.72 3.63 6.88 36.65 63.64 2.76 T 6 : RDF + 25 tonnes FYM 53.89 78.71 102.50 3.80 7.50 37.83 64.48 3.14 T 7 : RDF + 25 tonnes FYM/ ha + 60 kg/ ha Silicon through Diatomaceous earth 56.11 81.29 104.00 4.06 7.84 39.21 66.42 3.17 T 8 : RDF + 25 tonnes FYM / ha + 80 kg /ha Silicon through Diatomaceous earth 58.42 85.50 106.90 4.14 7.93 39.80 67.17 3.21 T 9 : RDF + 25 tonnes FYM / ha + 100 kg /ha Silicon through Diatomaceous earth 62.94 91.10 114.33 4.54 8.43 42.23 69.45 3.44 T 10 : RDF + Silicon 2% through Diatomaceous earth 53.01 78.55 101.37 3.73 7.44 37.44 64.04 2.87 T 11 : RDF + 25 tonnes FYM /ha + Silicon 2% through Diatomaceous earth 54.45 79.31 102.51 3.86 7.59 38.67 64.95 3.07 T 12 : RDF + 25 tonnes FYM/ha + Silicon 4% through Diatomaceous earth 55.39 80.42 104.04 4.01 7.71 38.82 65.52 3.10 T 13 : RDF + 25 tonnes FYM/ha + Silicon 6% through Diatomaceous earth 56.69 81.90 106.83 4.16 7.98 40.02 68.13 3.25 T 14 : RDF + 25 tonnes FYM/ha + Silicon 8% through Diatomaceous earth 57.82 83.82 107.31 4.48 8.04 41.93 69.00 3.39 SEm± 1.17 1.95 2.42 0.07 0.10 0.51 0.76 0.06 CD at 5% 3.40 5.69 7.05 0.20 0.31 1.48 2.22 0.17 Conclusion The study conducted at Rajasthan College of Agriculture investigated the impact of Silicon supplementation, along with RDF and FYM, on tomato growth, yield and quality. Results revealed significant improvements in these parameters, indicating the efficacy of integrated nutrient management. Application of RDF, FYM and Silicon through Diatomaceous earth not only enhanced tomato growth, yield and quality but also improved soil attributes, fostering a balanced nutritional environment conducive to optimal plant productivity. The findings underscore the importance of integrated nutrient management practices in maximizing crop yields and quality, emphasizing the synergistic effects of organic and inorganic inputs with Silicon supplementation. Declarations The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding this manuscript. Acknowledgment The authors would like to express their sincere gratitude to the Instructional Research Farm, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology (MPUAT) Udaipur, Rajasthan, for providing the necessary facilities and resources for conducting this study. We acknowledge the invaluable contributions of the technical staff and field assistants who diligently supported data collection and experimental maintenance throughout the study period. We also extend our appreciation to all colleagues and collaborators who provided valuable insights and feedback during the course of this research. Funding Declaration I don’t have any funding organization. Author’s contribution 1Pavan Kumar Sharma and B.G. Chhipa: conceptualization, methodology, writing original draft, Pinki Yadav: data analysis, Jitendra Gurjar: Manuscript editing, resources. References Alam, M.S., Sultana, N., Ahmed, S., Hossain, M.M. and Islam, A.K.M.A. 2010. Performance of heat tolerant tomato hybrid lines under hot, humid condition. Bangladesh Journal of Agricultural Research , 35 : 367-373. Angadi, V., Rai, P.K. and Bara, B.M. 2017. Effect of organic manures and biofertilizers on plant growth, seed yield and seedling characteristics in tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). 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G., Chérif, M. and Bélanger, R. R. 2001. Silicon and disease resistance in dicotyledons. In: Datnoff LE, SnyderGH, Korndorfer GH, editors. Silicon in agriculture. Studies in plant science. Amsterdam: Elsevier 8 : 159 - 169. Gillman, J.H., Zlesak, D.C. and Smith, J.A. 2003. Application of potassium silicate decrease black spot infection in Rosa hybrida . Hortscience , 38 : 1144-1147. Gowda, M.D.C., Lingaiah, H.B., Nachegowda, V. and Kumar, S.A. 2015. Effect of specialty fertilizers on growth and yield of tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum L.). Plant Archives , 15 : 335-338. Jaleel, C. A., Manivannan, P., Wahid, A., Farooq, M., Al-Juburi, H. J., Somasundaram, R. and Panneerselvam, R. 2009. Drought stress in plants: a review on morphological characteristics and pigments composition. International Journal Agriculture &Biology 11 : 100 - 105. Kumar, V., Tomar, S. and Sachan, C.P. 2020. Effect of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers Combinations on Plant Growth, Fruit Yield and Yield Parameters in Chilli ( Capsicum annuum L.). International Archive of Applied Sciences and Technology , 11 : 182-185 Kumara, B.H., Antil, R.S. and Raj, D. 2013. Long term effect of nutrient management on soil health and crop productivity under pearl millet- wheat cropping system. Indian Journal of Fertilisers. 9 : 86-97. Laxmi, P., Sarvanan, S. and Naik, M.L. 2015. Effect of organic manures and inorganic fertilizers on plant growth, yield, fruit quality and shelf life of tomato ( Solanum lycopersicon L.) cv. PKM-1. International Journal of Agricultural Science and Research , 5 : 7-12. Singh, A.K., Singh, R. and Singh, K. 2005. Growth, yield and economics of rice ( Oryza sativa ) as influenced by level and time of silicon application. Indian Journal of Agronomy, 50 : 190 - 93. Singh, M.K. 2014. Impact of front line demonstration of INM on growth and yield in tomato. 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R., & Glick, B. R. (2022). Potential of silicon in improving plant growth and mitigating abiotic stress: A review. Journal of Plant Growth Regulation , 41 (5): 1875–1897. Haynes, R. J. (2021). Significance of silicon in soil health and plant nutrition: A review. Soil Science Annual , 72 (2): 142345. Laane, H. M. (2021). The effects of silicic acid, silicates and silicate-based fertilizers in agriculture: A review. Journal of Plant Nutrition , 44 (11): 1593–1610. Sheng, H., Chen, S., & Zhang, J. (2021). Silicon-mediated enhancement of nutrient use efficiency in plants. Frontiers in Plant Science , 12 : 711752. Wang, M., Gao, L., & Dong, S. (2023). Silicon and plant stress tolerance: Advances and prospects. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry , 196 : 105–118. Additional Declarations The authors declare no competing interests. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-6928146","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":473437305,"identity":"a7ef26b4-769b-4a8d-9e8e-ee9b03590e2e","order_by":0,"name":"Pavan Kumar Sharma","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Pavan","middleName":"Kumar","lastName":"Sharma","suffix":""},{"id":473437306,"identity":"7f842827-fc1e-461b-9dcb-a632e76edc33","order_by":1,"name":"B.G. 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SL-12: A Nutrient Management Perspective\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","fulltext":[{"header":"Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eTomato (\u003cem\u003eSolanum lycopersicon\u003c/em\u003e Mill.) is a cornerstone of global agriculture, prized for its economic value, culinary versatility and rich nutritional profile, including vitamins, antioxidants and lycopene (Bvenura \u0026amp; Afolayan, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e). With increasing pressure to boost tomato yield and quality sustainably, research continues to explore innovative nutrient management strategies. Silicon (Si) supplementation has gained prominence as a promising approach, leveraging its ability to enhance plant growth and improve soil physicochemical properties (Laane, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThough not deemed essential for plants, silicon\u0026rsquo;s multifaceted benefits are well-documented in tomato and other crops. Silicon promotes robust growth by strengthening cell walls, enhancing photosynthesis and stimulating cell division (Sheng et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e). It also bolsters plant resilience against biotic stresses, such as fungal pathogens and pests and abiotic stresses like drought and salinity (Debona et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e; Wang et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR25\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e). Beyond its direct effects on plants, silicon improves soil structure, nutrient availability and microbial activity, fostering long-term soil fertility (Haynes, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR22\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e). This dual action on plant-soil dynamics positions silicon as a critical tool for sustainable nutrient management in tomato cultivation.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eDespite these insights, the singular impact of silicon supplementation on tomato growth and soil properties remains underexplored. Detailed studies are needed to clarify the mechanisms driving silicon-mediated improvements in plant-soil interactions, particularly in optimizing its integration with other fertilizers (Etesami et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e). Such research is vital for developing precise, sustainable strategies to enhance tomato productivity and soil health.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis study investigates the singular impact of integrated silicon supplementation on tomato growth and soil physicochemical properties through a soil nutrient management approach. By evaluating key growth parameters\u0026mdash;plant height, leaf area index and stem girth\u0026mdash;and soil attributes like pH, organic carbon and nutrient levels, we aim to uncover the mechanisms behind silicon\u0026rsquo;s benefits. Integrating silicon with organic and inorganic fertilizers, this research seeks to provide evidence-based recommendations for improving tomato yield, quality and sustainability, addressing global food security challenges (Cellier et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Material and Method","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe experiment, titled \u0026ldquo;Assessing the Singular Effects of Integrated Silicon Supplementation on Growth and Development Attributes of Tomato var. SL-12: A Nutrient Management Perspective\u0026rdquo; was conducted from October 2020 to March 2021 at the Hi-Tech Horticulture Unit, Department of Horticulture, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Udaipur, located at 24\u0026deg;35\u0026rsquo; N latitude, 74\u0026deg;42\u0026rsquo; E longitude and 585.17 meters above mean sea level. The site, situated in Agro-climatic Zone IVa (Sub-humid Southern Plain and Aravali Hills Region) of Rajasthan, features a sub-tropical, semi-arid climate with an average annual rainfall of 830 mm, primarily from the southwest monsoon (mid-June to September). Mean weekly weather data during the experimental period were obtained from AICRP, Meteorology, Department of Agronomy.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSoil samples from the experimental site, collected to a depth of 30 cm using a spade, hand hoe and screw auger, were analyzed for fertility and physicochemical properties (pH, EC, organic carbon, N, P, K) as per standard methods, with initial soil characteristics detailed in the experiment included 14 treatments to evaluate integrated nutrient management on tomato growth: T1: Control (no amendments). T2: RDF (120:80:80 kg/ha N:P:K). T3: 25 t/ha FYM. T4: 20 kg/ha Silicon (Diatomaceous Earth). T5: 25 t/ha FYM\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;40 kg/ha Silicon (Diatomaceous Earth). T6: RDF\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;25.refs t/ha FYM. T7: RDF\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;25 t/ha FYM\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;60 kg/ha Silicon (Diatomaceous Earth). T8: RDF\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;25 t/ha FYM\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;80 kg/ha Silicon (Diatomaceous Earth). T9: RDF\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;25 t/ha FYM\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;100 kg/ha Silicon (Diatomaceous Earth). T10: RDF\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;2% Silicon (Diatomaceous Earth). T11: RDF\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;25 t/ha FYM\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;2% Silicon (Diatomaceous Earth). T12: RDF\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;25 t/ha FYM\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;4% Silicon (Diatomaceous Earth). T13: RDF\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;25 t/ha FYM\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;6% Silicon (Diatomaceous Earth). T14: RDF\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;25 t/ha FYM\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;8% Silicon (Diatomaceous Earth).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe tomato variety SL-12, a determinate hybrid with desirable traits like good foliage, red square-round fruits and high shelf life, was used. Nursery preparation began on October 14, 2020, with seeds sown in plastic pro-trays filled with a coco peat, vermiculite and perlite mix. Four-week-old seedlings were transplanted into 4.0 m x 2.5 m plots at a 50 cm x 50 cm spacing in the evening, with basal doses of FYM, RDF (via urea, DAP, MOP) and Silicon applied one week prior, followed by light irrigation. Intercultural operations, including manual weeding, maintained weed-free conditions and hand-picking at horticultural maturity commenced 60\u0026ndash;70 days post-transplanting.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eGrowth parameters were recorded from five randomly tagged plants per plot. Plant height was measured at 60, 90 and 120 DAT from the ground to the growing tip. Leaf area index was assessed at the fruiting stage using a portable leaf area meter (Li-3000), expressed as cm\u0026sup2;/plant. The number of branches per plant was counted at final harvest, while days to anthesis and harvest were recorded from transplanting to flower initiation and first harvest, respectively. Stem girth was measured 5 cm above the ground using a vernier caliper. Data were statistically analyzed using ANOVA for Randomized Block Design, following methods by Fisher (1954) and Panse and Sukhatme (1967), to evaluate treatment effects.\u003c/p\u003e "},{"header":"Result and Discussion","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec3\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe study assessed the effects of various treatments on key tomato growth parameters, including plant height measured at 60, 90, and 120 days after transplanting (DAT), leaf area index (LAI), number of branches per plant at final harvest, days to anthesis, days to harvest and stem girth. Findings are detailed in Table\u0026nbsp;3.1 and illustrated in Figs.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan refid=\"Fig2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e and \u003cspan refid=\"Fig3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e. Among the treatments, T\u003csub\u003e9\u003c/sub\u003e (Recommended Dose of Fertilizer [RDF]\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;25 t ha⁻\u0026sup1; Farmyard Manure [FYM]\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;100 kg ha⁻\u0026sup1; Silicon via Diatomaceous Earth) consistently outperformed others. At 60 DAT, T\u003csub\u003e9\u003c/sub\u003e achieved a maximum plant height of 62.94 cm, surpassing other treatments by 8.85\u0026ndash;14.07% compared to T\u003csub\u003e14\u003c/sub\u003e and T\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e, respectively and maintained this superiority at 90 DAT (91.10 cm) and 120 DAT (114.33 cm). This enhanced height likely resulted from the synergistic effects of RDF\u0026rsquo;s immediate nutrient supply, FYM\u0026rsquo;s sustained nutrient release and Silicon\u0026rsquo;s role in promoting cell division, elongation and erect leaf structures for improved light interception and photosynthesis, as supported by (Jaleel et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2009\u003c/span\u003e; Yoshida et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1969\u003c/span\u003e). Treatment T\u003csub\u003e9\u003c/sub\u003e also recorded the highest LAI (4.54) and number of branches (8.43), reflecting robust foliage and branching, driven by enhanced nutrient uptake, microbial activity from FYM and Silicon\u0026rsquo;s contribution to chlorophyll content and photosynthetic efficiency (Babu et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2017\u003c/span\u003e; Yin et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2014\u003c/span\u003e). Although T\u003csub\u003e9\u003c/sub\u003e required more days to anthesis (42.23) and harvest (69.45), this delay likely allowed greater biomass accumulation, enhancing crop quality. The significantly larger stem girth (3.44 cm) in T\u003csub\u003e9\u003c/sub\u003e indicated stronger structural support and nutrient transport, bolstered by Silicon\u0026rsquo;s cell wall deposition (Yoshida et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1969\u003c/span\u003e). In contrast, sole applications of organic manures or inorganic fertilizers were less effective due to slow nutrient release or lack of sustained soil fertility, respectively (Kumar et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e). The integrated approach in T\u003csub\u003e9\u003c/sub\u003e optimized soil physicochemical properties, microbial transformation and physiological processes like photosynthesis and stomatal conductance, aligning with findings from (Alam et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2010\u003c/span\u003e; Angadi et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2017\u003c/span\u003e). Silicon further enhanced disease resistance and dry matter accumulation, supporting healthier leaves and higher LAI (Chen et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2011\u003c/span\u003e). These results, consistent with (Kumar \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e., 2013; Gowda et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2015\u003c/span\u003e), highlight the efficacy of combining RDF, FYM and Silicon for improving tomato growth and sustaining soil fertility, offering a promising strategy for sustainable agriculture.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEffect of Inorganic fertilizers, FYM and Silicon on plant height, leaf area index, number of branches, days to anthesis, stem girth and days to harvest of tomato\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"9\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c9\" colnum=\"9\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTreatments\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePlant height (cm)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLeaf area index\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNumber of branches\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDays to\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAnthesis\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDays to harvest\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStem girth (cm)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e60 DAT\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e90 DAT\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e120 DAT\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eT\u003csub\u003e1\u003c/sub\u003e : Control\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e45.27\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e66.75\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e91.71\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.18\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.95\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e32.53\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e61.33\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.48\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eT\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e : RDF (120:80:80 kg/ha NPK)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e48.87\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e72.70\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e97.85\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.36\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.66\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e33.89\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e62.24\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.66\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eT\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e : 25 tonnes FYM /ha\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e48.96\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e71.95\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e95.43\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.31\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.47\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e33.14\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e61.92\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.57\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eT\u003csub\u003e4\u003c/sub\u003e : 20 kg/ ha Silicon through Diatomaceous earth\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e46.50\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e67.83\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e93.50\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.51\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.48\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e34.85\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e61.67\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.56\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eT\u003csub\u003e5\u003c/sub\u003e : 25 tonnes FYM / ha\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;40 kg /ha Silicon through Diatomaceous earth\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e50.30\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e74.04\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e95.72\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.63\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.88\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e36.65\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e63.64\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.76\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eT\u003csub\u003e6\u003c/sub\u003e : RDF\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;25 tonnes FYM\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e53.89\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e78.71\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e102.50\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.80\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7.50\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37.83\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e64.48\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.14\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eT\u003csub\u003e7\u003c/sub\u003e : RDF\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;25 tonnes FYM/ ha\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;60 kg/ ha Silicon through Diatomaceous earth\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e56.11\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e81.29\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e104.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.06\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7.84\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e39.21\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e66.42\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.17\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eT\u003csub\u003e8\u003c/sub\u003e : RDF\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;25 tonnes FYM / ha\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;80 kg /ha Silicon through Diatomaceous earth\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e58.42\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e85.50\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e106.90\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.14\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7.93\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e39.80\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e67.17\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.21\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eT\u003csub\u003e9\u003c/sub\u003e : RDF\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;25 tonnes FYM / ha\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;100 kg /ha Silicon through Diatomaceous earth\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e62.94\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e91.10\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e114.33\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.54\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8.43\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e42.23\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e69.45\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.44\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eT\u003csub\u003e10\u003c/sub\u003e : RDF\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;Silicon 2% through Diatomaceous earth\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e53.01\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e78.55\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e101.37\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.73\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7.44\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37.44\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e64.04\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.87\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eT\u003csub\u003e11\u003c/sub\u003e: RDF\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;25 tonnes FYM /ha\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;Silicon 2% through Diatomaceous earth\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e54.45\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e79.31\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e102.51\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.86\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7.59\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e38.67\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e64.95\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.07\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eT\u003csub\u003e12\u003c/sub\u003e : RDF\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;25 tonnes FYM/ha\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;Silicon 4% through Diatomaceous earth\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e55.39\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e80.42\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e104.04\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.01\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7.71\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e38.82\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e65.52\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.10\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eT\u003csub\u003e13\u003c/sub\u003e: RDF\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;25 tonnes FYM/ha\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;Silicon 6% through Diatomaceous earth\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e56.69\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e81.90\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e106.83\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.16\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7.98\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e40.02\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e68.13\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.25\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eT\u003csub\u003e14\u003c/sub\u003e : RDF\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;25 tonnes FYM/ha\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;Silicon 8% through Diatomaceous earth\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e57.82\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e83.82\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e107.31\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.48\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8.04\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e41.93\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e69.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.39\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSEm\u0026plusmn;\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e1.17\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e1.95\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e2.42\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.07\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.10\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.51\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.76\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.06\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCD at 5%\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e3.40\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e5.69\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e7.05\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.20\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.31\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e1.48\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e2.22\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.17\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Conclusion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe study conducted at Rajasthan College of Agriculture investigated the impact of Silicon supplementation, along with RDF and FYM, on tomato growth, yield and quality. Results revealed significant improvements in these parameters, indicating the efficacy of integrated nutrient management. Application of RDF, FYM and Silicon through Diatomaceous earth not only enhanced tomato growth, yield and quality but also improved soil attributes, fostering a balanced nutritional environment conducive to optimal plant productivity. The findings underscore the importance of integrated nutrient management practices in maximizing crop yields and quality, emphasizing the synergistic effects of organic and inorganic inputs with Silicon supplementation.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding this manuscript.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAcknowledgment\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors would like to express their sincere gratitude to the Instructional Research Farm, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology (MPUAT) Udaipur, Rajasthan, for providing the necessary facilities and resources for conducting this study. We acknowledge the invaluable contributions of the technical staff and field assistants who diligently supported data collection and experimental maintenance throughout the study period. We also extend our appreciation to all colleagues and collaborators who provided valuable insights and feedback during the course of this research.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFunding Declaration\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI don\u0026rsquo;t have any funding organization. \u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor\u0026rsquo;s contribution\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1Pavan Kumar Sharma and B.G. Chhipa: conceptualization, methodology, writing original draft, Pinki Yadav: data analysis, Jitendra Gurjar: Manuscript editing, resources.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAlam, M.S., Sultana, N., Ahmed, S., Hossain, M.M. and Islam, A.K.M.A. 2010. Performance of heat tolerant tomato hybrid lines under hot, humid condition. \u003cem\u003eBangladesh Journal of Agricultural Research\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003e35\u003c/strong\u003e: 367-373.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAngadi, V., Rai, P.K. and Bara, B.M. 2017. Effect of organic manures and biofertilizers on plant growth, seed yield and seedling characteristics in tomato (\u003cem\u003eLycopersicon esculentum\u003c/em\u003e Mill.). \u003cem\u003eJournal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, Uttar Pradesh\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003e6\u003c/strong\u003e: 807-810.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAvhad, A.B., Kshirsagar, D.B., Shinde, S.R. and Bhalekar, M.N. 2016. Effect of integrated nutrient management on growth, yield, quality and nutrient uptake in tomato. \u003cem\u003eAsian Journal of Science and Technology,\u003c/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e 7\u003c/strong\u003e: 2731- 2733\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBabu, Ajay., Jatav, H.S., Verma, Maneesh. and Seema. 2017. Effect of FYM and Inorganic Fertilizer on Soil Microbial Biomass and Enzyme Activities of Indo Gangetic Plains, Varanasi, India.\u003cem\u003e International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences, \u003c/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e6\u003c/strong\u003e: 559-565\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBairagya, M.D. 2019. Effect of FYM and Vermicompost on Yield and Economics of Rabi Tomato (\u003cem\u003eLycopersicon esculentum\u003c/em\u003e). \u003cem\u003eInternational Journal of Agriculture Sciences, ISSN\u003c/em\u003e, pp.0975-3710.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChen, W., Yao, X., Cai, K. and Chen, J. 2011. Silicon alleviates drought stress of rice plants by improving plant water status, photosynthesis and mineral nutrient absorption. \u003cem\u003eBiological Trace Element Research\u003c/em\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e142\u003c/strong\u003e: 67\u003cstrong\u003e-\u003c/strong\u003e76.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFawe, A., Menzies, J. 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Silicon and plant stress tolerance: Advances and prospects. \u003cem\u003ePlant Physiology and Biochemistry\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003e196\u003c/strong\u003e: 105\u0026ndash;118. \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Silicon supplementation, Tomato growth, Nutrient management, Integrated fertilization, Plant physiology, Abiotic stress tolerance and Crop-specific responses","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6928146/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6928146/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThe study, titled \u0026ldquo;Assessing the Singular Effects of Integrated Silicon Supplementation on Growth and Development Attributes of Tomato var. SL-12: A Nutrient Management Perspective\u0026rdquo; was conducted at the Hi-Tech Horticulture Unit, Department of Horticulture, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, MPUAT, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India from October 2020 to March 2021. Fourteen treatments, combining Recommended Dose of Fertilizer (RDF), Farmyard Manure (FYM) and varying Silicon doses through Diatomaceous Earth, were evaluated in a Randomized Block Design with three replications. The investigation assessed the effects on tomato growth, yield, quality and residual soil properties. Treatment T9 (RDF at 120:80:80 kg/ha N: P: K\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;25 t/ha FYM\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;100 kg/ha Silicon) significantly outperformed others, recording the highest plant height (62.94 cm at 60 DAT, 91.10 cm at 90 DAT, 114.33 cm at 120 DAT), leaf area index (4.54), number of branches (8.43), stem girth (3.44 cm), days to anthesis (42.23) and days to harvest (69.45). These results highlight the synergistic benefits of integrating RDF, FYM and Silicon, which enhanced nutrient availability, photosynthetic efficiency and soil fertility. The findings underscore the potential of Silicon-supplemented nutrient management for improving tomato productivity and sustaining soil health, offering a viable strategy for sustainable agriculture.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Assessing the Singular Effects of Integrated Silicon Supplementation on Growth and Development Attributes of Tomato var. SL-12: A Nutrient Management Perspective","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-06-20 06:14:24","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6928146/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"2ac1f2c8-b49d-467b-afb5-dbbc4097b973","owner":[],"postedDate":"June 20th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2025-06-20T06:14:24+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-06-20 06:14:24","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-6928146","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-6928146","identity":"rs-6928146","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}