Impact of different zinc concentrations on growth, yield, fruit quality, and nutrient acquisition traits of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) grown under salinity stress

Abstract

Salinity stress affects plant growth, development, nutrient uptake, and yield. Applications of micronutrients, specifically zinc (Zn), can mitigate the harmful consequences of salt stress. During the winter season of 2022, an experiment was conducted in the net house of BINA substation Satkhira, Bangladesh, to examine the impact of different Zn concentrations (5 and 10 kg ha-1) on tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) growth, yield, fruit quality, and nutrient acquisition abilities under different salt stress (SS) conditions (SS0.5%, SS1.0%, and SS1.5% NaCl). The result of the study showed that different stress conditions lowered the plant height, the number of branches per plant, flower clusters, and fruits per plant, plant yield, vitamin C, protein and lycopene contents, and the acquisition of different nutrients, i.e., nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe). The application of 10 kg Zn ha-1 (Zn10) increased all previously mentioned parameters in both saline and usual conditions. On the other hand, a decrease in the amount of Na in fruit was observed when Zn application was increased from 5 to 10 kg ha-1. Plant Na/K ratios were consequently lowest at the highest Zn concentration. Therefore, the findings indicate that Zn application improves tomato growth, yield, fruit quality, and nutrient acquisition traits by mitigating the negative impacts of saline environments.