Studies on trends in use of pesticides and fertilizers for tomato cultivation in the vicinity of Lucknow, India
Keywords:
Agrochemicals, biofertilizers, biopesticides, biotic stress, illiteracy, survey.Abstract
The present work was undertaken to study the trends in use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers
for tomato cultivation in vicinity of Lucknow city, India; to gather information regarding knowledge
among farmers related to use of biological fertilizers and pesticides; and the constraints faced by
them during tomato cultivation through questionnaire based survey. The study revealed the high
consumption rate of agrochemicals suggesting farmer's sole dependency on them to protect
tomato crop from pests and diseases, and to enhance productivity. The knowledge pertaining to
biofertilizers and biopesticides among farmers was negligible. Most of the farmers were either
illiterate or having low education level which was the major cause for indiscriminate use of
agrochemicals. The area under tomato cultivation was observed to be reduced due to land
fragmentation, urbanization, biotic and abiotic stresses. Biotic factors like occurrence of fungal
and viral diseases, pest infestation and abiotic factors like scarcity of water, fluctuation in
temperature conditions were major reasons for productivity loses.
