Vermicast and Vermitea Application and its Effects on Growth and Yield, Firmness and Suitability of Tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum L.)
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Abstract
The increasing demand for sustainable tomato production has intensified the search for environmentally friendly nutrient management strategies that can improve crop productivity while maintaining soil health. This study evaluated the effects of different rates and combinations of vermicast and vermitea on the growth, yield, fruit quality, postharvest performance, and profitability of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) under the agroecological conditions of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. The experiment was conducted using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with six treatments and three replications. Growth parameters, flowering characteristics, yield components, fruit quality, postharvest attributes, and economic returns were analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Results revealed that vermicast and vermitea significantly influenced all measured parameters (P ≤ 0.01). The combined application of 80 g vermicast + 1000 ml vermitea per 16 L water (T3) consistently produced the best overall performance, recording the highest final plant height (86.37 cm), height increment (75.43 cm), number of leaves (86.00), flowers (53.00), fruits per plant (41.00), average fruit weight (98.27 g), total fruit yield (4.02 kg plant⁻¹), marketable yield (21.43 t ha⁻¹), and market quality (97.56%). The same treatment also extended shelf life, minimized fruit cracking, and generated the highest gross income (₱642,000.00 ha⁻¹), net income (₱447,596.24 ha⁻¹), return on investment (230.24%), and benefit-cost ratio (3.30). Meanwhile, vermitea applied alone enhanced stem diameter, fruit firmness, fruit size, and accelerated flowering. Overall, integrating vermicast and vermitea proved to be an effective and economically viable organic nutrient management strategy for improving tomato growth, fruit quality, yield, and profitability. The study demonstrates the potential of vermicompost-based amendments as sustainable alternatives to synthetic fertilizers for enhancing tomato production under local farming conditions.
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