Effect of different germination media on seed germination and seedling growth of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) in Bhojpur, Nepal

The research was conducted following a Complete Randomized Design (CRD) under plastic tunnel with three replications to investigate the effects of different germination media on seed germination and seedling growth of tomato in Bhojpur Nepal. Nine different compositions of growing media are soil, cocopeat, vermicompost, soil + FYM (1:1), soil + cocopeat (1:1), soil + vermicompost (1:1), cocopeat + vermicompost (1:1), soil + cocopeat + vermicompost (1:1:1) and soil+ cocopeat + vermicompost + FYM (1:1:1:1). Seeds of tomato variety (Srijana) was sown in Plastic tray. Germination parameters such as germination percentage, germination speed, germination energy, and vigor index were recorded for seven consecutive days. Growth parameters including root length, shoot length, number of leaves, stem diameter, fresh seedling weight and dry seedling weight were measured at 20, 25 and 30 days after sowing. There were significant differences in the germination parameters and growth parameters. The maximum germination percentage (100%), maximum seedling vigor index (2329), root length (10.967cm), number of leaves (20.87cm) was recorded in soil + cocopeat + vermicompost + FYM (1:1:1:1) as a growing media. However maximum shoot length (12.847cm), maximum stem diameter (0.310cm) and maximum fresh weight (1.540g) was recorded in soil + cocopeat + vermicompost (1:1:1) as a growing media. Hence, optimum growth of tomato seedlings was observed when soil, cocopeat, vermicompost and FYM were used in equal proportions.