Abstract:
Tomato is one of the most important vegetables in West Dembiya district, Central Gondar
Administrative Zone, Ethiopia. However, the productivity of tomato in this district is low due to
deficient or low level of zinc and boron nutrients in the soil. Therefore, a field experiment was
conducted in 2019/2020 cropping year in the district at Dahna Wawa kebele, to determine the
effects of foliar application of different concentrations of boron and zinc on growth, yield,
quality and shelf life of tomato grown under irrigation conditions. The experiment was laid on a
4*4 factorial combinations of four concentrations of boron (0, 0.05, 0.10 and 0.15%) and zinc
(0, 0.25, 0.50 and 0.75%), which was laid down in randomized complete block design (RCBD)
with three replications. Shanty PM F1hybrid tomato variety was used as a test crop. Data on
crop phenology, growth, fruit yield, quality and shelf life parameters were collected and
analyzed using SAS computer software (version 9.4). The results of the study revealed that both
main and interaction effects of zinc and boron on most of the studied growth, yield, quality and
shelf life parameters of tomato were significant. The highest plant height (72.58 cm), total fruit
yield (45.02 t ha-
1
), marketable fruit yield (39.29 t ha-
1
) and lowest physiological weight losses
were recorded from the combined foliar application of 0.25% zinc and 0.10% boron. Whereas,
the maximum fruit firmness (27.37N), total soluble solids (TSS) (6.17°Brix) and shelf life (23
days) were recorded from the combined foliar application of 0.5% zinc and 0.10% boron.
Furthermore, economic analysis indicated that foliar application of 0.25% zinc and 0.1% boron
resulted in the highest net benefit (250,322.31ETB ha-1) with acceptable marginal rate of return
(695.88%) above the minimum acceptable limit (100%). However, the result of this study was
from one season. Hence, similar studies have to be conducted in a number of seasons and
locations of similar agro-ecology and soil type in order to draw firm conclusions and make final
recommendation.
