Trichoderma- Enriched Biofertilizer Enhances Production and Nutritional Quality of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) and Minimizes NPK Fertilizer Use

Effective biofertilizer reduces not only the load of chemical fertilizers in crop production but also minimizes the pollution by excessive uses of the latter. The impact of Trichoderma-enriched biofertilizer (BioF), i.e., BioF/compost (household/kitchen wastes composted by Trichoderma harzianum T22) and BioF/liquid (T. harzianum T22 grown in liquid media, i.e., broth culture) were evaluated to recognize their roles in growth, yield and nutritional quality of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) in field studies. Encouraging responses were monitored in all respects. Above 200 and 336.5 % yield increase were recorded over control by BioF/compost alone (T3) and its combination with N: P: K (Nitrogen: Phosphorus: Potassium) application (T-4), respectively. Application of 50 % BioF/compost and 50 % BioF/liquid with 50 % N: P: K, provided statistically similar and significant (P <= 0.05) performance over control but not significant with standard dose of N: P: K. Total soluble solids, sugar, ascorbic acid, beta-carotene, lycopene, phosphorus and manganese content in tomato were significantly higher when fertilized with BioF/compost. In addition, protein content and some essential minerals were increased in 50 % BioF/compost + 50 % N: P: K treatment. Trichoderma composted kitchen wastes can serve as prospective biofertilizer for improvement in yield and quality of tomato cultivation.