Background: Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) productivity and fruit quality are strongly influenced by nutrient availability and crop-management practices. Humic acid and seaweed extract are plant biostimulants that may enhance vegetative growth, yield, and quality when applied at appropriate concentrations.
Aims: This study evaluated the individual and interactive effects of foliar-applied humic acid and seaweed extract on the growth, yield, fruit quality, and economic performance of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) cv. Arka Samrat.
Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Research Farm, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur, during the Rabi season of 2025–26.
Methodology: The experiment was laid out in a factorial randomised block design with two factors: humic acid at four concentrations (0, 2, 4, and 6 mL/L) and seaweed extract at four concentrations (0, 2, 4, and 6 mL/L). The 16 treatment combinations were replicated three times, and the observed data were analysed using OPSTAT.
Results: Significant differences were observed among the treatments. Among the treatment combinations, humic acid at 4 mL/L combined with seaweed extract at 4 mL/L (M3T3) recorded the greatest plant height (312.62 cm), number of branches per plant (9.07), plant spread (65.92 cm), number of leaves per plant (69.13), number of clusters per plant (11.80), and number of flowers per cluster (9.01). It also recorded the fewest days to first flowering (27.69), 50% flowering (36.96), and first fruiting (41.95), together with the greatest number of fruits per cluster (8.24), average fruit weight (109.73 g), fruit yield per plant (6.40 kg), number of fruits per plant (58.35), total soluble solids (4.99 °Brix), ascorbic acid content (26.68 mg/100 g), and benefit–cost ratio (2.97).
Conclusion: The treatment combination of humic acid at 4 mL/L and seaweed extract at 4 mL/L (M3T3) produced the most favourable growth, yield, quality, and economic responses under the conditions of this experiment. However, these findings are indicative and require further experimentation across seasons and locations before broader recommendations can be made.
Tamanna Nehra, Dipayan Sarkar, U. Shukla et al.· Journal of Advances in Biolo...· 0 citations
Aims: This study evaluated the individual and interactive effects of applied biostimulants on the growth, yield, quality, and economic performance of radish (Raphanus sativus L.) cv. Pusa Desi.
Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Research Farm, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur (Rajasthan), during 2025-26.
Methodology: The experiment was laid out in a factorial randomised block design with two factors: commercial biostimulants (control, humic acid @ 3%, fulvic acid @ 3%, and salicylic acid @ 50 mg/L) and traditional biostimulants (control, moringa leaf extract @ 3%, vermiwash @ 3%, and cow urine [1:10]). The 16 treatment combinations were replicated three times, and the observed data were analysed using OPSTAT.
Results: Significant differences were observed among the treatments. Among the treatment combinations, humic acid @ 3% and moringa leaf extract @ 3% (T1×M1) recorded the maximum plant height (35.5 cm at 45 DAS and 51.6 cm at harvest), root-shoot ratio (1.15 cm at 45 DAS and 1.20 cm at harvest), average leaf area (218.48 cm2 at 45 DAS), leaf area index (3.36 at 45 DAS), number of leaves per plant (8.4 at 30 DAS and 12.61 at 45 DAS), chlorophyll a content (2 mg/g at 30 DAS and 2.2 mg/g at 45 DAS), chlorophyll b content (1.17 mg/g at 30 DAS and 1.33 mg/g at 45 DAS), total chlorophyll content (3.23 mg/g at 30 DAS and 3.24 mg/g at 45 DAS), maximum root diameter (5 cm at 45 DAS and 5.7 cm at harvest), average root weight (123 g at 45 DAS and 130 g at harvest), yield per plot (5.2 kg), yield per hectare (433 q/ha), TSS content in roots (4.24 ºBrix at 45 DAS and 4.4 ºBrix at harvest), vitamin C (27.9 mg/day at 45 DAS and 31.6 mg/day at harvest), total phenolic content (2.16 mg GAE/g at 45 DAS and 2.51 mg GAE/g at harvest), beta-carotene (4.12 mg at 45 DAS and 4.16 mg at harvest), and the highest B:C ratio of 3.16.
Conclusion: The results of our research indicated that the application of humic acid @ 3% and moringa leaf extract @ 3% (T1×M1) increased the growth, yield, and quality of radish. However, these findings are indicative and require further experimentation across seasons and locations before broader recommendations can be made.
Anisha, Dipayan Sarkar, M. Bundela et al.· Journal of Advances in Biolo...· 0 citations