Effects of Carbofuran on Availability of Macronutrients and Growth of Tomato Plants in Natural Soils and Soils Amended with Inorganic Fertilizers and Vermicompost

The effects of lower field rate (LFR), field rate (FR), and higher field rate (HFR) applications of carbofuran on ammonium (NH4)-nitrogen (N), nitrate (NO3)-N, available phosphorus (P), and available potassium (K) contents in natural soils and those amended with inorganic fertilizers and vermicompost on the growth of tomato plants were studied. The NH4-N, NO3-N, available P, and available K contents increased up to FR but the most significant increase in was observed at LFR of carbofuran application. At HFR there was a significant reduction in nutrient availability. With passage of time all these parameters increase up to 30 days; thereafter, a decrease was observed up to the end of the experiment in both unamended and amended soils. The greater plant growth was observed at LFR of carbofuran application and at HFR the plants exhibited phytotoxicity in the form of marginal leaf scorching in both systems. The morphological growth parameters of tomato plants were positively correlated with nutrients availability.