1

A research proposal on:

EFFECT OF DIFFERENT GROWING MEDIA ON SEED GERMINATION AND
SEEDLING GROWTH OF TOMATO (Lycopersicum esculentum L. cv. Srijana) AT
GREEN HOUSE CONDITION IN DHADING DISTRICT, NEPAL

Principal researcher: Sandhya Kafle

Mobile no: 9866043780
E-mail: [email protected]
Institution: College of Natural Resource
Management, Kapilakot, Sindhuli

Roll no: 2080

Major Advisor: Dinesh Khanal
Assistant, Professor
Department of Plant Breeding, Sindhuli

Site Supervisor: Aashish Shrestha

Senior Agriculture Officer, AKC,Dhading

Type of Research Biological Research

Research location: Nilakantha-3, Dhading, Bagmati Province
Research duration: 5 months
Expected Cost: NRS.13,530
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Contents
1. General Introduction........................................................................................................................... 6
1.1 Background ................................................................................................................................... 6
1.2 Statement of the problem ............................................................................................................ 7
1.3 Rationale of study ......................................................................................................................... 7
1.4 Scope of the study ........................................................................................................................ 8
1.5 Objectives...................................................................................................................................... 8
1.5.1 General objective ................................................................................................................... 8
1.5.2 Specific objectives .................................................................................................................. 8
1.6 Hypothesis..................................................................................................................................... 8
2. Literature review ................................................................................................................................. 9
2.1 Introduction to tomato ................................................................................................................. 9
2.4 Trend of fresh vegetable for last ten year (2021/22) ................................................................. 10
2.5 Status of vegetable by Provinces (2021/22) ............................................................................... 10
2.5 Vegetable production in Dhading District................................................................................... 11
2.6 Vegetable production in Nepal. .................................................................................................. 11
2.6 Germination media ..................................................................................................................... 12
2.6.1 Properties of germination media ......................................................................................... 12
2.7 Different growth media used for germination ........................................................................... 13
3. Conceptual framework ..................................................................................................................... 15
4 . Methods and methodology ............................................................................................................. 15
4.1 Introduction of study area .......................................................................................................... 16
4.2 Climate of the site ....................................................................................................................... 16
4.3 Sources of seed ........................................................................................................................... 16
4.4 Experimental design and Treatment details ............................................................................... 16
4.5 Field layout .................................................................................................................................. 17
4.6 Detail of field operation .............................................................................................................. 17
4.6.1 Seed selection ...................................................................................................................... 17
4.6.2 Tray filling ............................................................................................................................. 17
4.6.3 Seed sowing ......................................................................................................................... 17
4.6.4 Irrigation............................................................................................................................... 17
4.6.5 Uprooting ............................................................................................................................. 18
5.Data collection techniques ................................................................................................................ 18
5.1 Germination percentage ............................................................................................................. 18
5.2 Seedling vigor index .................................................................................................................... 18
5.3 Number of leaves ........................................................................................................................ 18
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5.4 Seedling height (cm) ................................................................................................................... 18

5.5 Root length (cm) ......................................................................................................................... 18
5.6 Disease incidence ........................................................................................................................ 19
5.7 Shoot length ................................................................................................................................ 19
6. Data analysis ..................................................................................................................................... 19
7. Benefit cost analysis.......................................................................................................................... 19
8. Beneficiaries ...................................................................................................................................... 20
8.1 Primary beneficiaries .................................................................................................................. 20
8.2 Secondary beneficiaries .............................................................................................................. 20
9. GANTT CHART ................................................................................................................................... 20
10.Risk and Assumption ........................................................................................................................ 20
10.1 Risk ............................................................................................................................................ 20
10.2 Assumptions.............................................................................................................................. 21
11.Budget summary .............................................................................................................................. 21
12. Problem tree ................................................................................................................................... 22
13.Objective tree .................................................................................................................................. 23
Bibliography .......................................................................................................................................... 24

List of Figures

Figure 1: Trend of fresh Vegetable for last ten year (2012/13-2021/22) ............................................. 10
Figure 2 : Conceptual Framework ......................................................................................................... 15
Figure 3 : Location of research site ....................................................................................................... 16
Figure 4:Problem tree ........................................................................................................................... 22
Figure 5:Objective tree ......................................................................................................................... 23

List of Tables

Table 1: Status of fresh vegetable by Provinces, (2012/13-2021/22) (MoALD, 2021/22).................... 10

Table 2: Status of some major vegetables grown in Nawalparasi East District .................................... 11
Table 3: Area, production and productivity of vegetables in Nepal ..................................................... 11
Table 4: Layout of experimental design ................................................................................................ 17
Table 6:Analysis of variance table for CRD ........................................................................................... 19
Table 7:Gantt chart ............................................................................................................................... 20
Table 8:Budget summary ...................................................................................................................... 21
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ABBREVIATION AND ACRONYMS

% Percentage
/ Per
@ At the rate of
°C Degree Celsius
°F Degree Fahrenheit
ANOVA Analysis of Variance
CEC Cation Exchange Capacity
cm Centimeter
Co2 Carbon dioxide
CRD Completely Randomized Design
CV Coefficient of Variance
cv. Cultivar
df Degree of freedom
DMRT Duncan’s Multiple Range Test
et al And others
FYM Farm Yard Manure
GDP Gross Domestic Product
gm Gram
i.e. that is
INGO International Non-governmental Organization
Kg Kilogram
LDL Low- density lipoprotein
LSD Least Significant Difference
M Meter
M2 Meter square
MS-Excel Microsoft Excel
NGO Non- governmental Organization
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Executive summary:
"GERMINATION AND SEEDLING GROWTH OF TOMATO (Lycopersicum esculentum
L.cv.Srijana) AT GREEN HOUSE CONDITION IN DHADING DISTRICT NEPAL" will
be conducted at Duwadi's Smart Farm ,Nilkantha Municipality-3 Dhading, Besi to study the
effects of various growing media on germination and seedling growth of Srijana variety of
tomato. Low germination or no germination of tomato seedling is one of the major problems
for tomato production farmers. So, to identify the suitable growing media is necessary to
increase germination of seedling. The growing media used for germination of seedling will be
perlite, cocopeat, peat moss, FYM and control (Farmers Practice). The experiment will be
conducted in Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with four replication and five
treatment. Germination percentage, seedling vigour index, disease incidence, leaf number,
seedling height, root length, shoot length, dry matter accumulation will be taken as
parameters. The obtained data will be analyzed using R-studio. The finding of the experiment
will be helpful to recommend the appropriate media which will be benefited to farmers. The
project will run from last week of Chaitra 2080 to last week of Baishak 2081.The total
estimated budget will be Nrs. 13,530.
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1. General Introduction

1.1 Background

One of the most popular vegetables consumed worldwide is the tomato (Lycopersicum
esculentum), which is a member of the Solanaceae family. Tomatoes are grown commercial
in Nepal, both in the plains and the hills. It is an annual herb ,0.2-2m tall, erect or spreading
with thick solid stem, coarsely hair. Based on the growth behavior, tomato plants are
determinate and indeterminate type. Determinate types are dwarf. The total area under
cultivation of tomato in Dhading district is 769 Ha with the production 12,635 Mt and yield
of 16.42Mt/Ha (MoALD, 2021/2022). The warm-season crop tomato is a rich source of
organic acids, minerals, and vitamins. It is an inexpensive source of minerals, calcium,
niacin, vitamins (A, C, and E), and vitamins. Tomatoes are eaten straight up in salads,
sandwiches, burgers, etc. as a raw vegetable. On a wide scale, tomatoes are prepared for a
variety of processed foods such paste, puree, syrup, juice, ketchup, etc. The tomato's red
color is due to lycopene pigment, and its yellow and orange color is due to the presence of
prolycopene and carotene pigments. When compared to other organs, it is thought that eating
tomatoes is good for the heart. Tomato juice helps prevent sunburn and keep the skin looking
young, according to research from Manchester and New Castle Universities. Tomato
consumption has been linked to a lower incidence of breast cancer, head and neck cancer, and
is also thought to protect against neurological illnesses. Tomatoes are effective at purifying
the blood and curing urinary tract infections.
The seed's germination is an important stage since the rate at which it develops directly
affects the rest of the plant's life (Duraisamy & Vivek, Jun 2017) . Growing media, which
serves as both a supply and a reservoir of plant nutrients, has a significant impact on seed
germination, seedling emergence, growth, and quality of seedlings in nurseries. Aeration,
water, and adequate physical support are all provided to the plant through the use of excellent
growing media, which also promotes root growth. The formation and subsequent
maintenance of the wide functional roots system directly depends on the type of growth
medium used for the crops. A suitable growing medium should be made up of combinations
that are delicate enough for seeds to sprout readily, retain moisture, drain excess water, and
offer enough plant nutrients for seedling growth and development. The importance of good
growth media for seed germination and their ability to offer adequate support or anchoring. A
good growing medium is crucial for seed germination because it gives the plant enough
support or anchorage, acts as a reservoir for water and nutrients, allows oxygen to reach the
roots, and allows for gas exchange between the roots and the atmosphere outside the substrate
(Bhardwaj, 2014).The physical, chemical, and biological properties of a growing medium
must be understood since they affect plant response and production costs. Growth media
come in a wide variety of forms, some of which are generated biologically and others which
are produced artificially in factories.
Vegetable cultivation may employ organic or inorganic growth media. Examples of organic
growth media include peat, compost, manure, tree bark, coconut fiber, vermicompost, and
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rice husk ash. Inorganic growth media include perlite and vermiculite. Sand, soil, coco-peat,
and coco-mix are the main germination media used by Nepalese nurseries. Numerous
elements, including germination media, oxygen, temperature, light, water content, and soil
humidity, have an impact on seed germination. Every species requires a distinct ecosystem
and the ideal conditions for seed germination and seedling emergence. The ideal growing
medium should have a balance between moisture and aeration and enable easy root
penetration. Field soils often don't produce plants in containers to a reasonable standard
because they lack the aeration, drainage, and water-holding capacity needed. Therefore, a
number of "soilless" growing media have been developed in order to improve this problem.
Physical and chemical requirements can be used to categorize the necessary conditions for a
growing medium. Research will be conducted to determine the impacts of germination media
on the growth and development of tomato seedlings in order to better understand the role of
various growing media in seedling emergence, growth, and development.

1.2 Statement of the problem

The production of healthy and vigorous tomato seedling is the most important factor in
successful production and yield of tomato. Being an agricultural nation, agriculture is the
primary source of food, money, and work for the majority of the population in Nepal. One of
the most popular commercial vegetable crops in Nepal's plains and hills is the tomato,
according to farmers, vegetable traders, and customers alike (Pandey & Chaudhary, 2004). In
Nepal, tomato growing is becoming more and more attractive as a source of income, however
poor yield performance is a major issue for farmers due to inadequate management and
production technologies. Various problems are faced by farmers like low germination rate
and no germination of seeds. Even the recommended quality of seed do not germinate or
germinate uneven. The choice of an appropriate germination medium is essential for the
effective generation of seedlings. For a successful start to plant cultivation and the growth of
healthy seedlings, choosing a quality germination medium is crucial (Gruda & M, 2013).
Healthy seedlings are less likely to contract illnesses and pests, which raises maintenance
expenses. Field soils are frequently utilized to grow seedlings, increasing the likelihood of
several soil transmitted pathogens. Production of healthy seedlings is essential for effective
commercial tomato farming, and choosing an appropriate germination medium may offer a
solution.

1.3 Rationale of study

The key to producing healthy seedlings, which are necessary for optimal crop production, is
choosing an appropriate germination media. The growth media has an impact on seed
germination. The main issue with tomato gardening is poor seedling germination. The main
goal of this research is to boost tomato output through the use of several germination media,
including control, coco peat, perlite, peat moss, and farm yard manure (FYM). The
establishment and later maintenance of the wide functional roots system, which is necessary
for the production of high-quality horticultural crops, are directly impacted by the use of an
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appropriate germination medium. In a nursery, a suitable growing medium affects seed

germination, seedling emergence, seedling growth, and seedling quality. It also works to
lessen disease and pest infestation. Since the growth medium utilized in this study is widely
accessible, it will be simple to advise farmers to use the right growth medium. More research
is required to learn more about germination medium and to determine the most efficient
germination media suitable for Nepal's different climatic and geographic conditions. The goal
of this research is to identify the best germination media for improving seedling emergence,
rooting, and vegetative growth in order to produce crops successfully and, in turn, advance
the horticulture industry in Nepal as a whole.

1.4 Scope of the study

• The results of this study will assist farmers, extension agents, and researchers in
learning more about current seed germination and farmer care practices in the targeted
district.
• This study will aid in the analysis of the impact of various media on tomato growth and
development.
• The results of this study will aid in educating those who are interested in commercial
tomato production.
• The study's conclusions may also be helpful to academics, students, and domestic and
foreign non-governmental organizations.

1.5 Objectives

1.5.1 General objective

• To study the effect of different germination media on growth and development of
tomato seedlings.

1.5.2 Specific objectives

• To assess how various germination media affects the germination traits of tomato
seedlings.
• To ascertain how different media affects the vegetative traits of tomato seedlings.

1.6 Hypothesis

• Null Hypothesis - There is no significant differences in using various growing medium

in tomato seedling germination.
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• Alternate Hypothesis – There is significant differences in using various growing

medium in tomato seedling germination.

2. Literature review

2.1 Introduction to tomato

Tomato farming is one of the most significant commercial vegetable crops in both the plains
and the hills of Nepal. Tomato growing is becoming more and more attractive as a source of
income but a poor yield performance is a major issue for farmers due to inadequate
management and production technologies. Due to the low germination rate or no germination
of seeds, farmers are losing interest these days.
It is crucial to use appropriate growing media or substrates. Suitable media has an important
function for the root system development. A strong root system is built on choosing a quality
growing medium. The following overview of the literature provides information on issue
with germination procedures the ideal environment needed for seed germination and
appropriate germination media.

2.2 Botany description

Tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum) belongs to the family Solanaceae or nightshade. It is a
perennial crop but grown as annual warm season crop due to sensitiveness to frost (S, G, &
E). It grows to a height of 1-3m, with a weak and has woody stem. Each leaflet is upto 8 cm
long with a serrated margin. The leaves and stem both have densely glandular hair. The
flowers are yellow with five pointed lobes on the corolla. Tomato is a berry having a subset
of fruits. Tomato is a sexually reproducing plant. It has tap root. Fruit ranges in diameter
from 0.6-3 inch or 1.5-7.5 cm. Tomato plants have two types, one is determinant type and
indeterminant type depending on their growth habits. Determinant variety can be harvested in
two to three harvest.

2.3 Botanical Classification

Kingdom: Plantae
Sub-kingdom: Tracheobionta
Super-division: Spermatophyta
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Subclass: Asteridae
Order: Sonales
Family: Solanaceae
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Genus: Solanum L
Species: Solanum lycopersicum L.

2.4 Trend of fresh vegetable for last ten year (2021/22)

Figure 1: Trend of fresh Vegetable for last ten year (2012/13-2021/22)

4,500,000
4,000,000
3,500,000
3,000,000
Status

2,500,000
2,000,000
1,500,000
1,000,000
500,000
0

Year

Area(Ha) Production(Mt.) Yield(Mt./Ha.)

2.5 Status of vegetable by Provinces (2021/22)

Table 1: Status of fresh vegetable by Provinces, (2012/13-2021/22) (MoALD, 2021/2022)

Provinces Area(ha) Production (Mt) Yield (Mt/ha)

KOSHI 51,152 814,689 15.93
MADESH 83,658 1,216,333 14.54
BAGMATI 52,884 761,992 14.41
GANDAKI 23,233 296,084 12.74
LUMBINI 44,277 597,037 13.48
KARNALI 13,450 155,006 11.52
SUDURPASCHIM 21,184 312,017 14.73
TOTAL 289,839 4,153,157 14.33
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2.5 Vegetable production in Dhading District.

Majority of the farmers in Dhading district are involved in seasonal vegetable production. Major
vegetables grown are Cabbage, Cauliflower, Tomato, Cucumber, peas, carrot, French beans etc. The
total area under cultivation is7873 Ha with production of 96142 metric ton (MoALD, 2021/2022)
Table 2: Status of some major vegetables grown in Dhading District

Vegetables Area(ha) Production (Mt) Yield (Mt/ha)

Cabbage 950 13775 14.50
Cauliflower 853 14075 16.75
Tomato 769 12635 11.22
Cucumber 613 8897 14.51
Peas 564 2874 5.10
Carrot 504 3105 6.16
French beans 346 2811 8.13
Bottle gourd 337 4700 13.95
Bitter gourd 284 3183 11.21
French beans- pole type 278 2283 8.21

2.6 Vegetable production in Nepal.

The status of total area, production and productivity of vegetables in Nepal is shown in the tabulated
form below.
Table 3: Area, production and productivity of vegetables in Nepal

S.No Year Area (Ha) Production (Mt.) Yield (Mt./Ha.)

2012/13 246,392 3,301,684 13.40

1
2013/14 254,932 3,421,035 13.42
2
2014/15 266,937 3,580,085 13.41
3
2015/16 280,807 3,929,034 13.99
4
2016/17 277,393 3,749,802 13.52
5
2017/18 286,864 3,958,230 13.80
6
2018/19 297,195 4,271,270 14.37
7
2019/20 281,132 3,962,383 14.09
8
2020/21 284,121 3,993,167 14.05
9
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2021/22 289,839 4,153,157 14.33

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2.6 Germination media

Germination media has a significant impact on seed germination seedling growth and seedling
quality. Media provides as a source and storage facility for plant nutrients. Germination media
supports the plant and secures the root system (Thembinkosi, et al., 2016)

2.6.1 Properties of germination media

2.6.1.1 Physical properties

▪ Bulk Density
Bulk Density is also called apparent density. It is a material property defined as the mass of
many particles of the material divided by bulk volume. High bulk density media can make
difficult for plant root system to form, have fewer macrospores and prevent water from
penetrating (Santosa, Priosambodo, & Santosa, 2019) . The growing media that is light in
weight is desirable.

▪ Water holding capacity

Medium water holding capacity can be defined as the percentage of a medium's total pore
space that is still filled with water following gravity drainage. Different media components
contribute varying degrees of water holding capacity. The media should have proper
aeration, water holding capacity and have adequate nutrition supply to plants (Khobragade ,
Damke, & Jadhao, 1997)

▪ Porosity
In the growing medium, coarse particle create larger pores that maintain air space and
facilitate drainage. Large average pore size will have less total porosity. The ideal particle
range for a single component media is roughly 0.03 to 0.24 in (0.8 to 6 mm), a good growing
media will content a mixture of ingredient of different particle size and property.
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▪ Aeration

Soil media aeration enables gas exchange between the soil and sprouting embryo. Seeds may
suffocate if the soil or media is not adequately aerated as a result of overwatering and
compaction.
2.6.1.2 Chemical properties

▪ pH value

The germination level and pace will be lower if the nutrient solution concentration is higher.
The ideal nutrient availability ranges between 5.5 and 6.5 for the majority of the plants
(Gruda & M, 2013).

▪ Cation exchange capacity

Cation exchange capacity is an indicator of soil's capacity to hold cation through electrostatic
attraction. Cation exchange capacity is a measurement of the growth medium's capacity to
absorb exchangeable cations that are available to the plant. When nutrient solution is not
continually provided and soil fertilizers are employed, cation exchange capacity is thought to
be a significant substrate property (Gruda & M, 2013).

2.6.1.3 Biological properties

The medium must be devoid of pathogenic organism and toxic or dangerous chemicals. The
carbon to nitrogen (C: N) ratio is a valuable measure of an organic medium's biological
stability

2.7 Different growth media used for germination

Soil

For Seed germination and growth, soil provides a stable environment. Water transfer from
soil to seed by the contact between soil and seed. soil consist of organic and inorganic
portion. For optimal seed germination right amount of seed-to-soil contact is essential. Soil
provides the necessary nutrients and a medium for the seeds to anchor themselves.

Cocopeat
Cocopeat is produced by removing coconut husk. Coconut has good physical characteristics,
large pore space, a lot of water and slow biodegradation. It has good physical characteristics,
a large total pore space, a lot of water, little shrinkage, a small bulk density, and slow
biodegradation. (Prasad & Power, 1997)
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Peat moss

Peat moss is a decayed, dried sphagnum moss. Sphagnum moss contains high nutritional
capacity and CEC and it contains 90-99% organic matter.
Perlite

Perlite enhance the drainage capabilities in a mixture. Perlite helps to increase aeration,
drainage and optimum moisture retention and nutrient availability. Perlite is mostly used to
enhance the drainage capabilities in a mixture, while it can be used alone or combined with
other substrates for greenhouse plant cultivation. (Gruda & M, 2013)
FYM

Farm yard manure (FYM) is a decomposed mixture of cattle dung and urine with straw and
litter used as bedding material and residues from the fodder fed to the cattle and it is rich in
nutrients. It improves the soil structure. It increases the soil fertility and adds humus to the
soil and also improves the soil productivity.

2.7 Challenges in germination of tomato and the solutions

We plant tomato seedling in the ideal setting but still have problems. Various tomato seedling
issue could arise along the way of growth (GURAGAIN, et al., 2021). Traditional
transplanting has some drawbacks, including low yield, poor quality, high expense, and
occasionally farmers have trouble raising tomato seedlings on schedule owing to unfavorable
environmental factors. Using different media finally promotes the production of seedling in a
timely manner with cheap cost (Duraisamy & Vivek, Jun 2017). It also has the potential to
be used in challenging conditions (Upadhyaya, 2008).
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3. Conceptual framework

Figure 2 : Conceptual Framework

Social Problems
Illiteracy
Traditional Farming
Practices Poverty

Problems
Technology Tomato seedling
Low germination
Different nutrient media germination
No germination

Outcomes
Increase germination
percentage
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4. Methods and methodology

4.1 Introduction of study area

The research will be conducted on the Mr Duwadi's Smart Krisi Farm. The geographical
location of the site will be about 27.65542̊ Northern latitude and 84.41753̊ Eastern longitude.

Figure 3 : Location of research site

4.2 Climate of the site

This research will be located at temperate region with temperature ranges from 10-27 °C in
winter and 18-35°C in summer.

4.3 Sources of seed

The variety of Tomato is Srijana and it will be collected from the Kishan Agrovet, Dhading.

4.4 Experimental design and Treatment details

The research experiment will be set in Completely Randomized Design (CRD) design.Five
treatment will be used.

T1 Control (Farmers practice)

T2 FYM+Sand+Soil(1:1:1)
T3 Coco-peat+Sand+Soil(1:1:1)
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T4 Perlite+Sand+Soil(1:1:1)
T5 Peatmoss+Sand+Soil(1:1:1)

4.5 Field layout

T1 T2 T3 T4 T5

T5 T4 T3 T2 T1

T4 T2 T1 T5 T4

T5 T1 T2 T3 T5

Table 4: Layout of experimental design

4.6 Detail of field operation

4.6.1 Seed selection

Tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum L.) of variety Srijana will be used for the research. The
major attributes of Srijana tomato variety are high yielding, longer production season, disease
tolerant, longer shelf-life including superior size and taste due to which it is mostly preferred
by the farmers.
4.6.2 Tray filling
Tray having 50 holes will be filled with respective media. Proper care will be taken so that
the media don’t get mixed. Media will be filled properly to the top of every hole. 20 trays will
be used in total.
4.6.3 Seed sowing
The seeds will be dibbled at the center of each hole at the depth of 1 cm. Then after the seed
will be covered properly with the respective media without pressing it.
4.6.4 Irrigation
A light irrigation will be provided soon after the sowing with the help of sprayer. Excessive
water could cause the flow of media so the process will be carried out carefully.
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4.6.5 Uprooting
At the end of the research the seedlings will be uprooted from the tray for the various data
collection.

5.Data collection techniques

Observation will be taken from each treatment and replication. The data will be collected on
the following parameters during research period.
5.1 Germination percentage

Total number of germinations out of total seeds sown will recorded for each replication of
each treatment. Total count will be taken in percentage. Germination percentage of seedlings
with different growth media will be calculated using the following formula. (Muhammad
Jawaad, et al.)
Germinated seeds
Germination % = × 100
Total seed sown for germination

5.2 Seedling vigor index

Seedling vigor index will be calculated by multiplying germination (%) and seedling length
(Muhammad Jawaad, et al.) Data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) to
compare the effects of media.

Seedling vigour index = 𝑠𝑒𝑒𝑑𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ × Germination %

5.3 Number of leaves

Total number of leaves from sample plant will be counted and recorded at the end of
research.
5.4 Seedling height (cm)

The height of randomly selected plant will be measured. Seedling height will be expressed in
terms of centimeters.
5.5 Root length (cm)

At first all the media will be removed carefully which was attached to the roots. After
cleaning, length of the root will be measured excluding the stem and by removing all the
attached media using scale.
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5.6 Disease incidence

The number of diseased plants infected with damping off among the total germinated
seedlings will be assessed.

Percentage disease incidence = (No. of diseased seedlings/ no. of germinated seedlings) ×100

5.7 Shoot length

First the plant will be removed carefully which is attached to the roots. After cleaning, length
of the shoot will be measured excluding the root by using scale.
5.8 Dry matter accumulation

Dry matter accumulation will be calculated by = Dry weight / Fresh weight * 100.

6. Data analysis

The data recorded will be subjected to standard subjective analysis. Data will be arranged
systematically on treatment wise basis. MS-Excel will be used for entering data and ANOVA
of treatment will be done by using R studio.

Table 5:Analysis of variance table for CRD

Source of Degree of Sum of Mean sum of Computed F Tabulated F

variation freedom square square 0.05 0.01
Treatment t-1=4 TSS
Error t(r-1) = ESS
Total Tr-1=19

7. Benefit cost analysis

The benefit cost analysis of different pruning methods will be carried by using the following
formula

Gross return
B/C ratio=
Variable Cost
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8. Beneficiaries

8.1 Primary beneficiaries

Commercial farmers will be benefitted by the use of various growth media on germination
and seedling growth of tomato, which reduces the expenditure on seedling and ultimately
increases the net profit of farmers.
8.2 Secondary beneficiaries

Researcher, NGO, INGO and other agencies related to agriculture will be benefitted by this
research.

9. GANTT CHART

Table 6:Gantt chart

S. Activities Falgun Chaitra Baisakh Jesta Asad

N 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
1. Literature
review
2. Field analysis
3. Field selection

4 Agreement
with farmer
5 Materials
collection
6 Seeding
7 watering
8 Data collection
from shoot
9 Data collection
from root
11 Data analysis
12 Report writing
13 Final
presentation

10.Risk and Assumption

10.1 Risk

• Lack of understanding between farmer and researcher.

• Lack of support from farmer.
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• Unavailability of inputs.
• Prevalence of diseases and pest.
10.2 Assumptions

• Weather will be favorable.

• Control of disease and pest.
• Support from farmer and will cooperate for research.
• Required input will be available on time and fund will be released timely.

11.Budget summary

Table 7:Budget summary

S. Particulars Amount (NRs)

N
1 Land Preparation 1000
2 Tray 2000
3 Perlite 600
4 Pitmus 200
5 Cocopit 500
6 Other growing media 500
7 Stationary, Photocopies 1500
8 Miscellaneous 2000
9 Transport and Communication 2000
cost
10 Data analysis 2000
11 SUB TOTAL 12,300
12 Contigency(10%) 1,230
13 TOTAL 13,530
 22

12. Problem tree

Figure 4:Problem tree

Effect Poverty

Effect
Lower farm income

Higher expenditure on Less contribution to

Effect
seedling national GDP

CORE PROBLEM LOWER SEEDLING GERMINATION

Cause Farmer are unaware about

Use of in appropriate variety proper germination media

Lack of research and

Cause Illiterate farmer
extension activities.
 23

13.Objective tree

Figure 5:Objective tree

Effect Farmer’s Prosperity

Effect
Higher profit

More contribution to
Effect Lower expenditure on seed
national GDP

CORE PROBLEM HIGHER SEEDLING GERMINATION

Cause Farmer are aware about

Use of appropriate variety
germination media

Access to research and

Cause Literate farmer
extension activities.
 24

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