Cherry tomato (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme) is a widely popular crop, prized for its rich nutrient content, short growth cycle, and economic value. As urbanization increases and arable land becomes scarce, hydroponic systems—soil-less cultivation that delivers essential nutrients through water—offer a sustainable alternative to traditional farming. However, optimizing plant growth and maximizing yield in hydroponic systems present ongoing challenges.
Mallappa J. Madolli, a PhD candidate in the Agricultural Systems and Engineering (ASE) Academic Program at the School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD), AIT, is conducting research under the supervision of Dr. Sushil Kumar Himanshu, Assistant Professor (ASE/DFANR), to explore the potential of plant growth regulators (PGRs) in improving the growth and productivity of cherry tomatoes cultivated in a hydroponic system. Mr. Mallappa recently attended the prestigious “6th Workshop on Water Resources in Developing Countries: Hydroclimate Modeling, Information Tools, and Simulation Techniques” from May 20th to May 31st, 2024, held at the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) in Trieste, Italy, with a grant from ICTP, co-sponsored by UNESCO and the International Atomic Energy Agency. He is applying the skills and knowledge gained at the workshop to contribute to the field of Precision Agriculture through his experiment titled “Effect of Plant Growth Regulators (Gibberellic acid and Naphthalene acetic acid ) on Plant Growth and Yield of Cherry Tomato under Hydroponic System,” utilizing advanced digital agricultural tools to process and analyze experimental data.
Mr. Mallappa J. Madolli with advisor Dr. Sushil Kumar Himanshu
Soil-less cultivation offers an important alternative to conventional agriculture, allowing precise control of nutrients to maximize uniform fruit production. However, cherry tomato yields vary significantly across cultivars, regions, and seasons. Issues like low fruit set rates or premature fruitlet drops often reduce yields. Factors such as inadequate insect pollination, low viable pollen, and insufficient bloom overlap with pollenizers contribute to these issues. Applying PGRs to extend the successful pollination period is a viable solution to enhance fruit set. PGR treatments can significantly affect various plant responses, including fruit size, set, maturation, and shape in species like cherry tomatoes.
Mr. Mallappa using Thermal Imaging for Plant Stress Detection and Phenotyping
The current study aims to understand the effect of different doses and combinations of PGRs on the growth, yield, and quality of cherry tomatoes. GA3 promotes cell elongation and division, aiding plant growth and development, while NAA influences physiological processes, hastens maturity, and improves fruit quality. The experiment is being conducted at the Hydroponics Greenhouse under the Department of Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resources (DFANR), AIT. The study features an experiment with two factors: the first factor tests electrical conductivity (EC) at two ranges (1.2-1.4 and 1.4-1.6), while the second factor tests different plant growth regulators (PGR), at various levels of GA3 and NAA, both alone and combined. Data is collected daily, bi-weekly, and at harvest stages, and meteorological data within the greenhouse is logged continuously throughout the experiment. The pH and EC of the hydroponic system are monitored daily, and growth, physiological, and morphological parameters are recorded bi-weekly. Final data will be analyzed in the Digital Agricultural Lab of DFANR.
Mr. Mallappa working in the Digital Agriculture Lab for data processing and analysis
From nursery bed preparation to data analysis, Mr. Mallappa is receiving support from Ms. Phantipa Plangklang (Laboratory Supervisor, ASE), as well as PhD students Mr. Shubham Gade and Mr. Subesh Dhakal, and master’s students Jirapat Suksomboon and Rajat Desai, all of whom are working in the Digital Agricultural Lab.
Mr. Mallappa with advisor Dr. Sushil Kumar Himanshu and his fellow friends
In conclusion, this study provides insights into the appropriate concentrations of EC levels required for optimal growth, yield, and quality of cherry tomatoes in hydroponic conditions. It also evaluates the effects of single and combined applications of PGRs (GA3 and NAA) on plant growth parameters (plant height, number of leaves, branches per plant, days to fruit set, and days to first harvest) and yield parameters (number of fruits, fruit size, weight, and yield per plant).
This ongoing research is part of Dr. Sushil Kumar Himanshu’s project “Smart Agricultural Technologies for Nutrients and Irrigation Water Management,” sponsored by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), India. This funding has been instrumental in advancing innovation and research in Precision Agriculture, paving the way for sustainable food production in the near future.
