Studies on trends in use of pesticides and fertilizers for tomato cultivation in the vicinity of Lucknow, India
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.