Influence of biostimulants on growth and yield attributes of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

Being a natural repository of health-promoting nutrients and economically significant crop, tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) plays a significant role in Indian agroeconomy. Though production is high, difficulties persist owing to imbalanced chemical usage and limited awareness of sustainable inputs. To address this, the research was conducted during Rabi 2023–24 and 2024–25 at Post Graduate Research Farm, Centurion University of Technology and Management, Paralakhemundi, Odisha to assess the impact of biostimulants with recommended dose of fertilizers on growth and yield. The experiment employed randomized block design (10 treatments), including panchagavya, jeevamruta, seaweed extract and fish jaggery extract, applied individually and in conjuction with 100 % recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF). Data on morphology and yield traits were recorded and statistically analyzed. Among the treatments, T8 recorded highest fruit yield per plant (3.882 kg), yield per m2 (4.26 kg/m²) and yield per hectare (42.6 t ha-1) surpassing the control plot. T3 improved plant height and flower clusters. T6 produced the thickest stems, while T10 showed early flowering and maximum branching. The research highlighted the synergistic effects of bioenhancers and chemical fertilizers. Panchagavya and jeevamruta contributed growth hormones, beneficial microbes and enzymes that enhanced nutrient uptake and photosynthetic activity. Fish jaggery extract and seaweed extract boosted chlorophyll and soil nutrient cycling. Thus, the finding indicates that the integrated approach, combining 3 % panchagavya and 3% jeevamruta with RDF (T8) significantly optimized the performance of tomato. This investigation recommends such combinations for biocompatible and high-productivity cultivation, emphasizing its potential in sustainable horticulture.