INTRODUCTION Tomato is one of the important vegetable crops grown throughout the world under open and controlled conditions. It serves as a daily component of diet in many countries and also an important source of minerals, vitamins A, B, C good source of iron and antioxidants (Grierson and Kader, 1986). India produces 12.43 MT. of tomato from an area of 6.34 lakh ha with an average productivity of 19.60 t ha-1. Recent hybrids of tomato have shown open field yield potential as high as 100 t ha-1. In order to obtain this high yield levels of new tomato hybrids, farmers’ have to adopt better crop husbandry practices which include balanced and desired levels of nutrient management. Calcium is an essential nutrient that plays a key role in the structure of cell walls and cell membranes, fruit growth and development, as well as general fruit quality (Kadir, 2004). It enhances resistance to bacterial and viral diseases (Usten et al, 2006). The Ca taken up from the soil is translocated to the leaves but very little goes from the leaves to the fruit causing imbalance in source sink relationship (Kadir, 2004). Therefore, plants need a constant supply of Ca for vigorous leaf and root development and canopy growth (Del-Amor and Marcelis et al, 2003). Magnesium is also a major constituent of cell wall (Jones, 1999). It is vital for the process of photosynthesis and therefore for the life of the plant in general. It acts as a cofactor and activator Interaction effect of applied calcium and magnesium on alfisols of Karnataka and its influence on uptake and yield levels of tomato (Solanum lycopersium L.) B.L. Kasinath, A.N. Ganeshmurthy and A.T. Sadashiva ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research Hesaraghatta Lake Post, Bengaluru - 560089 E-mail : kasnath@iihr.ernet.in ABSTRACT In a field experiment, interaction effects of applied Ca, Mg and K on yield and quality of tomato and soil nutrient levels was studied in Alfisols of Karnataka. The results showed application of Mg enhanced fruit yield up to 100 kg Mg ha-1 and decreased at higher levels of Mg. The application of Ca also enhanced the yield of tomato but their combined application at different levels had negative effect of one on the other. The results indicated that optimum combination of Mg and Ca was 100 and 250 kg ha-1 respectively for obtaining higher yield in tomato. Soil P content enhanced with application of both Ca and Mg. However, applied Ca and Mg showed significant negative effect on both soil and K content. Interaction effect was however, non-significant on soil pH, EC, OC and Soil N content. Key words: Acid, soils, calcium, magnesium, nutrient interaction, tomato of many enzymes and substrate transfer reactions (Bergmann, 1992). Plants inadequately supplied with Mg show delay in reproductive phase. Clear understanding of the ratios’ of nutrients such as Ca:Mg, Ca:B, Mg:K etc., along with their obsolute content both in soil and plant on growth and quality is lacking (Ganeshamurthy and Srinivasarao, 2001) and excess of one element induces deficiency of another element. Although a lot of research work has been done on the requirement of tomato for major nutrients but insufficient data is available on secondary nutrients such as Mg and Ca and their interactions effects on yield of tomato under field conditions. Hence the study was carried out to evaluate the combined effect of K, Ca and Mg applications on availability of K, Ca and Mg and further their effect on the growth and yield of tomato. MATERIAL AND METHODS The experiment was conducted at ICAR-IIHR, Hesaraghatta, Bengaluru during the rabi season of 2011- 12. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications. There were four levels of Mg as the main plot treatment and three levels of Ca as sub-plot treatment. The 12 treatment combinations are presented in Table 1. Tomato var. Arka Ananya (F1) was transplanted at 100cm x 60cm after incorporation of fertilizers as per the Table 1. The crop was grown up to maturity and fruits were J. Hortl. Sci. Vol. 9(2):179-184, 2014 180 harvested at regular intervals and yield recorded as sum total of all pickings. Soil and plant analysis Soil samples were collected and these samples were analysed for N, P, K, Ca and Mg. Analytical methods followed for the analysis of soil samples and plant samples are presented in Table 2. Whole plant sampling was done from each treatment for recording total biomass production. Five plants from each replication were sampled including fruit, leaf and stem. The plant samples were partitioned into leaf, stem and fruit and processed for plant analysis. Weight of each plant was recorded separately and dried at 600C in a hot air oven. Samples were powdered and processed for estimation of nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium and magnesium using standard procedures. Analytical procedure followed for the analysis of plant samples are presented in Table 2. Statistical analysis The data on various observations such as growth, yield and other parameters were tabulated and subjected to statistical analysis (Sundaraja et al, 1972). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Fruit yield Optimum yield of tomato can be obtained at optimum Mg:Ca ratio in the soil. Any deviation from the optimum would affect adversely the yield of tomato (Bombita Nzanza, 2006). However, this optimum ratio depends on soil native Mg and Ca content and other related properties. The data pertaining to yield of tomato hybrid as influenced by four levels of Mg and three levels of Ca and their interaction is presented in Table 3. Application of both Mg and Ca significantly enhanced the fruit yield of tomato. The yield of tomato increased with increasing levels of applied Mg up to 100kg Mg ha-1 at lower levels of applied Ca. However, at higher levels of Ca the fruit yields decreased with increasing levels of Mg. The lowest mean yield value 64.36 t ha-1 was observed at Ca1 (0 kg Ca ha -1) application and the highest mean yield of 73.97t ha-1 was obtained at application of Mg2 (100kg Mg ha -1). A combination of Mg2 (100kg Mg ha-1) Ca3 (250 Ca kg ha -1) resulted in highest yield (82.05t ha-1). The results indicate that optimum combination of Mg and Ca was 100 and 250kg ha-1 Table 1: Layout of treatment details of magnesium and calcium interaction experiment Treatment N:P2O5:K2O Mg Quantity Ca Quantity kg ha-1 (kg ha-1) of MgSO4 (kg ha -1) of applied used as Gypsum (kg) (Kg) T 1 180:150:120 0 0 0 0 T 2 180:150:120 0 0 100 342.46 T 3 180:150:120 0 0 250 856.15 T 4 180:150:120 100 1028 0 0 T 5 180:150:120 100 1028 100 342.46 T 6 180:150:120 100 1028 250 856.15 T 7 180:150:120 150 1542 0 0 T 8 180:150:120 150 1542 100 342.46 T 9 180:150:120 150 1542 250 856.15 T 1 0 180:150:120 200 2056 0 0 T 1 1 180:150:120 200 2056 100 342.46 T 1 2 180:150:120 200 2056 250 856.15 Table 2: Analytical methods followed for analysis of soil and plant samples Sl. Parameters Methodology Reference No. Soil Analysis 1. Mechanical Analysis Hydrometer method Piper (1966) 2. pH (1:2.5) Potentiometer method Jackson (1973) 3. Electrical conductivity (EC) Conductivity method Jackson (1973) 4. Organic carbon Walkley and Black’s Wet oxidation Jackson (1973) 5. Cation exchange capacity Leaching with ammonium acetate Black (1965) 6. Available nitrogen Alkaline potassium permanganate method Subbiah and Asija (1956) 7. Available phosphorous Molybdo phosphate blue colour method Jackson (1973) 8. Available potassium Flame photometer method Jackson (1973) 9. NH4OAc extractable calcium (PPM) Versanate titration method Black (1965) 10. NH4OAc extractable magnesium (PPM) Versanate titration method Black (1965) Plant Analysis 1. Nitrogen Micro Kjeldahl method Jackson (1973) 2. Phosphorous Vanadomolybdo phosphoric method Jackson (1973) 3. Potassium Flame photometer method Jackson (1973) 4. Calcium Atomic absorption spectrophotometer method Lindsay and Norwell (1978) 5. Magnesium Atomic absorption spectrophotometer method Lindsay and Norwell (1978) Kasinath et al J. Hortl. Sci. Vol. 9(2):179-184, 2014 181 respectively for obtaining highest yield in tomato. Several workers have reported similar results. Hao and Papadopoulos (2004) in a factorial experiment with nutrient solutions containing calcium (150 and 300mg l-1 ) in combination with three levels of magnesium (20, 50 and 80mg l-1) showed that at 300mg Ca l-1 and Mg 80mg l-1 significantly increased total fruit yield and dry matter. On a sandy loam acidic soil (pH 4.9) Charles and Jeffery (1983) studied the effects of Mg and Ca lime sources on yield, quality and up take of tomato. In a two year experiment (1980 and 1981), results showed that marketable fruit yields were lower with the 100% Ca (OH)2 or 100% MgO. Highest fruit yields were obtained over a relatively narrow range of leaf Ca and Mg mole ratio. The best yield was reported in Ca: Mg ratio of 15:5 by Bombiti Nzanza (2006). Interaction of Mg and Ca on soil and plant nutrients Soil nutrients Applied Mg and Ca did not influence the properties of soils like pH, EC and organic carbon (Table 4). Applied Mg and Ca had negative effect on soil N levels. With increasing applied Mg and Ca levels the mean available N content decreased. Interaction effects of the combined Mg and Ca effect found that the lowest available N 109.38kg ha-1was recorded in Mg4Ca3 treatment and the highest N 125.14kg ha-1 in Mg1 Ca1 treatment. Similar results were observed in groundnut crop by Ananthanarayana and Hanumantharaju (1992). Applied Ca and Mg significantly influenced soil available P. Available P levels increased from 7.2kg/ha-1 in Mg1Ca1 to 7.95kg ha -1 in Mg4Ca3 treatment. This indicated synergistic relationship of Ca and Mg on soil available P. Halbrooks and Wilcox (1980) also observed in tomato a positive correlation between Mg and P absorption in water cultures supplied with 4, 20, 80ppm of P2O5 and 1, 8, 40ppm of Mg. The application of Mg and Ca had significant negative influence on soil available K. Applied Mg and Ca increased exchangeable Mg and decreased exchangeable K and Ca. As the level of applied Ca increased the available K content decreased. Interaction effects of applied Mg and Ca resulted in the lowest available K of 101.8kg K ha-1 in plots that received combined application of 200kg Mg ha-1 and 250 kg Ca ha-1. Highest available K of 124.3kg K ha-1 was recorded Table 3: Interaction effects of Mg with Ca on yield of tomato Treatments Yield (t ha-1) Ca1 Ca2 Ca3 Mean (0 kg (100 kg (250 kg (kg ha-1) Ca ha-1) Ca ha-1) Ca ha-1) Mg1 (0 kg Mg ha -1) 61.45 67.05 64.84 64.45 Mg2 (100 kg Mg ha -1) 67.14 72.71 82.05 73.97 Mg3 (150 kg Mg ha -1) 65.79 74.00 75.60 71.80 Mg4 (200 kg Mg ha -1) 63.06 77.03 69.21 72.10 Mean 64.36 72.70 72.92 69.76 S. Em± C.D at 5% Mg 1.885 6.526 Ca 1.022 3.065 Mg x Ca 2.045 6.131 Table 4. Interaction effects of different levels of magnesium and calcium on soil nutrients Treatment p H EC OC Soil N Soil P Soil K Soil Soil (dsm-1 at 25.c) (%) (kg ha-1 ) (kg ha-1 ) (kg ha-1 ) Cappm Mgppm Mg1Ca1 5.41 0.39 0.64 125.14 7.22 124.3 430.17 92.98 Mg1Ca2 5.44 0.39 0.67 123.18 744 121.4 493.21 95.41 Mg1Ca3 5.45 0.40 0.67 120.70 7.59 115.3 558.67 110.06 Mg2Ca1 5.43 0.40 0.66 122.92 7.43 121.7 477.83 102.60 Mg2Ca2 5.45 0.41 0.67 119.66 7.52 117.3 526.80 113.32 Mg2Ca3 5.45 0.39 0.65 118.42 7.72 113.4 585.92 132.46 Mg3Ca1 5.47 0.39 0.67 120.58 7.65 116.1 514.26 119.86 Mg3Ca2 5.48 0.43 0.68 115.46 7.69 111.0 582.63 136.93 Mg3Ca3 5.48 0.43 0.68 113.88 7.87 108.9 636.18 178.62 Mg4Ca1 5.50 0.40 0.68 117.70 7.79 110.6 565.39 122.70 Mg4Ca2 5.53 0.43 0.67 112.62 7.83 106.4 641.20 150.51 Mg4Ca3 5.57 0.43 0.67 109.38 7.95 101.8 694.67 213.64 S.Em+ Mg NS NS NS NS 0.073 1.72 20.60 8.933 Ca NS NS NS NS 0.100 2.09 22.88 11.677 Mg x Ca NS NS NS NS 0.113 2.36 27.75 16.680 CD at 5% Mg NS NS NS NS 5.16 61.72 26.770 Ca NS NS NS NS 6.26 68.54 34.987 Mg x Ca NS NS NS NS 7.07 83.15 49.974 Effect of applied ca and mg on yield in tomato J. Hortl. Sci. Vol. 9(2):179-184, 2014 182 when no Ca and Mg were applied. Potassium is a monovalent cation while both Ca and Mg are divalent. Hence, antagonistic relations are expected naturally among these nutrient elements both in soil and crops (Ganeshamurthy, 1983). Interaction effects of applied Mg and Ca resulted in enhancing the soil Ca from 430.17ppm in Mg1Ca1 to 694.67ppm in Mg4Ca3 treatments, on the other hand it was observed that interaction effects of applied Mg and Ca resulted in enhancing soil Mg from 92.98ppm in Mg1Ca1 to 213.64ppm in Mg4Ca3 treatments. Ca uptake was affected by major cation even though it is available in soil or nutrient media in sufficient quantity as observed by Barber (1995). On the other hand K and Mg can restrict the uptake of Mg from the roots to upper plant parts (Schimanski, 1981). According to Bergman (1992) high K indirectly causes damage to plants growth by inducing Ca and Mg deficiencies Plant nutrients Application of graded levels of Ca and Mg in different combinations showed significant changes in plant nutrient contents (Table 5). The interaction of Mg and Ca resulted in lowest fruit N content of 2.39% in Mg4 Ca3 treatment. Similar results were reported by Adams et al (1978). The interaction of Mg and Ca resulted in lowest fruit P content of 0.16% in Mg1 Ca1 and treatments and the highest P content of 0.19% was observed in Mg 2 Ca 2 and Mg 4Ca 2 combination. Halbrooks and Wilcox (1980) in a field experiment studied the elemental uptake pattern in tomato and obtained similar trends. The interaction of Mg and Ca resulted in lowest fruit K of 4.04 and 5.57% in Mg3 Ca3 and Mg1Ca2 treatments respectively. In general the fruit Ca content decreased with increased levels of Mg and Ca. The Interaction effect of applied Mg and recorded highest fruit Ca of 2.46% in Mg1Ca1 (Control) and lowest of 1.02% was found in Mg4Ca3 combination. A combined application of Mg1 and Ca3 recorded 0.31% fruit Mg1 on the other hand 0.47% was found in Mg4 Ca1. The nutrient content in plant leaf and stem showed significant differences as in fruit nutrient content. Interaction effects of Mg and Ca application showed lowest N of 2.10% in Mg1 Ca1 and Mg3Ca3 treatments and the highest of 2.70% was observed in Mg3Ca3 treatment. The P content in leaf and stem found lowest 0.09% and highest 0.19% in Mg1Ca1 and Mg3Ca1 treatments. The highest K 2.35% was recorded in Mg2Ca2 combination. Barber (1995) and Bergmann (1992) found similar results. The Ca content in leaf and stem decreased with increased levels of Mg and Ca application. The highest Ca content (2.73%) in leaf and stem was found in Mg1Ca1 and lowest (2.17%) was observed in Mg4Ca3 combination. The results indicated antagonism between Mg and Ca in uptake process. Similar results were found by many workers viz., Bergmann (1992) Osman and Gerald (1985); Asiegbu and Uzo (1983). Table 5. Interaction effects of different levels of magnesium and calcium on plant nutrients Treatment Plant N (%) Plant P (%) Plant K (%) Plant Ca (%) Plant Mg (%) Fruits Leaf & Fruits Leaf & Fruits Leaf & Fruits Leaf & Fruits Leaf & stem stem stem stem stem Mg1Ca1 2.59 2.10 0.16 0.09 4.63 1.37 2.46 2.73 0.38 0.91 Mg1Ca2 2.42 2.52 0.17 0.13 5.57 1.37 2.05 2.67 0.35 0.87 Mg1Ca3 2.60 2.37 0.19 0.13 5.54 2.01 1.74 2.49 0.31 0.83 Mg2Ca1 2.63 2.50 0.18 0.13 4.95 1.98 2.00 2.65 0.41 0.98 Mg2Ca2 2.44 2.22 0.19 0.16 4.94 2.35 1.88 2.61 0.39 0.91 Mg2Ca3 2.52 2.55 0.17 0.12 4.64 1.47 1.42 2.57 0.35 0.86 Mg3Ca1 2.70 2.10 0.16 0.19 4.87 2.09 1.55 2.54 0.45 1.18 Mg3Ca2 2.66 2.45 0.18 0.09 5.42 1.71 1.58 2.50 0.43 1.10 Mg3Ca3 2.55 2.70 0.16 0.13 4.04 2.14 1.19 2.44 0.40 1.25 Mg4Ca1 2.48 2.43 0.18 0.18 5.10 2.50 1.12 2.30 0.47 1.24 Mg4Ca2 2.41 2.34 0.19 0.10 4.84 1.70 1.06 2.23 0.44 1.07 Mg4Ca3 2.39 2.00 0.17 0.10 4.85 1.99 1.02 2.17 0.40 1.01 S.Em+ Mg 0.061 0.054 0.003 0.003 0.126 0.058 0.127 0.059 0.054 0.019 Ca 0.046 0.042 0.006 0.005 0.113 0.031 0.170 0.053 0.029 0.016 Mg x Ca 0.093 0.085 0.012 0.010 0.226 0.062 0.340 0.106 0.058 0.033 CD at 5% Mg 0.213 0.189 0.013 0.013 0.436 0.200 0.442 0.205 0.189 0.066 Ca 0.139 0.128 0.018 0.016 0.340 0.093 0.510 0.159 0.087 0.050 Mg x Ca 0.278 0.256 0.036 0.032 0.680 0.186 1.020 0.319 0.174 0.101 Kasinath et al J. Hortl. Sci. Vol. 9(2):179-184, 2014 183 The Mg content in leaf stem as affected different levels of Mg and Ca application resulted lowest Mg 0.83% and Mg3Ca3 treatments respectively. Similar results were found by Micaela Carvajal et al (1999). In nutrient uptake process K, Mg and Ca are strongly antagonistic (Voogt, 1998) resulting in deficiency of depressed element. Ca uptake was affected by major cation even though it is available in soil or nutrient media in sufficient quantity as observed by Barber (1995). On the other hand K and Mg can restrict the uptake of Mg from the roots to upper plant parts (Schimanski, 1981) According to Bergmann (1992) high K indirectly causes damage to plants growth due to Ca and Mg deficiencies. No significant influence was observed on plant Ca content by the application of Mg and Ca. With increasing applied Mg levels the mean fruit Ca content decreased. As the level of applied Ca increased the plant Ca content decreased. The lowest fruit Ca of 1.02% was recorded in Mg4 (250kg Mg ha -1) Ca3 (250kg Ca ha -1) treatment. In a study on Mg uptake by tomato plants Schwartz and Baryosef (1983) observed that enhanced Ca concentration reduced the Mg concentration but increased Mg concentration had no effect on Ca concentration. Mirabdulbaghimitra (1993) found that leaf and root Ca contents decreased with increasing Mg supply there were higher concentration of Ca and Mg in the leaf compared to fruit, while P was higher in fruit than leaf, with the leaf age Ca and Mg content increased (Asiegbu and Uzo, 1983). Application of Mg and Ca had significant negative influence on plant Mg content. With increasing Mg levels the mean fruit Mg content increased in tomato fruits, leaves and stem. In fruits the Mg content decreased as the level of Ca application increased. Similar trend was noticed in leaves and stem. Combined application of Mg1Ca3 resulted in lowest fruit Mg of 0.31% in tomato fruits and 0.83% in leaves and stem. Paiva et al (1998) while working in tomato crop showed antagonistic effect between Ca and Mg and reported that the rate of Mg uptake depressed by Ca. Micaela Carvajal et al (1999) observed decreased uptake of Mg due to cationic antagonism. In order to achieve desired yield and quality levels with hybrid tomato varieties nutrition management of NPK and other nutrients like calcium and magnesium play a vital role. As these nutrient elements are antagonistic to each other, proper corrections can to be done through foliar sprays in proper ratios. Application of Mg and Ca produced significant treatment differences in yield. The results indicated that a combination of 100 and 250kg ha-1 of Mg and Ca respectively was found optimum to obtain higher yields of tomato. Interaction effect of Ca and Mg application at different levels showed positive correlation with soil P and an antagonistic effect on both soil and plant K, but had no significant effect on soil pH, EC, OC and soil N contents. Application of different levels of Mg and Ca showed significant changes in plant nutrient contents. REFERENCES Adams, P., Davies J.N. and Winsor, G.W. 1978. Effects of nitrogen, potassium and magnesium on the quality and chemical composition of tomatoes grown in peat. J. Hort. Sci., Sci. Biotech., 53:115-122. Ananthanarayana, R. and Hanumantharaju, T.H. 1992. Interactions of Ca and Mg with other plant nutrients. In: H.L.S Tandon (Ed). Arnon, D.I. and Stout, P.R. 1939. Molybdenum as an essential element for higher plants. Pl. Physiol., 14:599-602 Asiegbu J.E. and Uzo, J.O. 1983. Effects of lime and magnesium on tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) grown in a fertility sandy loam tropical Soil. Pl. and soil, 74:53-60 Barber, S.A. 1995. Soil nutrient bioavailability: A mechanistic approach, 2nd Ed. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York Bergmann, W. 1992. Nutritional disorders of plants development, visual and analytical diagnosis. Gustav Fisher Verlag, Jena, Germany Black, C.A. 1965. Methods of soil analysis part-II. Agronomy Monograph, Amer. Soc. Agron., Maidson, Wisconsin, USA Soil Analysis Bombita Nzanza. 2006. Yield and quality of tomato as influenced by differential Ca, Mg and K nutrition. M.Sc. Thesis. Department of Plant Production and Soil Science. University of Pretoria Charles A. Mullins and Jeffry D. Wolt. 1983. Effects of Calcium and Magnesium Lime Sources on yield, Fruit Quality, and Elemental uptake of Tomato., J.Amer.Soc.Hort. Sci., 108:850-854 Del-Amor, F.K. and L.F.M. Marcelis, 2003. Regulation of nutrient uptake, water uptake and growth under calcium starvation and recovery. J. Hort. Sci.Biotech., 78: 343-349 Ganeshamurthy, A.N. 1983. An estimate of the uptake of subsurface soil potassium by crops in two long term experiments J. Agric. Sci., (Camb). 101:494- 497 Ganeshamurthy, A.N. and C.H. Srinivasarao. 2001. J. Hortl. Sci. Vol. 9(2):179-184, 2014 Effect of applied ca and mg on yield in tomato 184 Interaction of potassium with other nutrients. Special publication International Seminar on “Importance of potassium in nutrient management for sustainable production in India” 3-5 December 2001, New Delhi.pp:159-174 Grierson, D. and A.A. Kader. 1986. Fruit ripening and quality of tomato crop. Chapman and Hall, London. pp: 240-280 Halbrooks, M.C. and G.E. Wilcox. 1980. Tomato plant development and elemental accumulation. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci., 105:826-828 Hao, X. and Papadopoulos, A.P. 2004. Effects of calcium and magnesium on plant growth, biomass partition, and fruit yield of winter greenhouse tomato. Hort. Sci., 39:512-515. Jackson, M.L. 1973. Soil chemical analysis. Prentice Hall of India Private Limited, New Delhi, pp: 498 Jones, J.B., 1999. Tomato plant culture: in the field, green house and home garden.CRS Press, LLC Florida, pp: 11-53 Kadir, S.A., 2004. Fruit quality at harvest of ‘Jonathan’ apple treated with foliar applied calcium chloride. J. of Pl. Nutrition, 27:1991-2006 Lindsay, W.L. and W.A. Norwell. 1978. Development of a DTPA soil test for zinc, iron, manganese and copper. Soil Sci. Soci. of American J., 42:0421-428 Micaela Carvajal, Vicente Martinez and Antonio Cerda. 1999. Influence of Magnesium and Salinity on Tomato plants grown in Hydroponic Culture. J. Pl. Nutr., 22:177-190 Mirabdulbaghimitra. 1993. Influence of raising magnesium supply on fresh and dry matter production and mineral content of tomato plants (Lycopersicum esculentum M.) l. 8:3-49 & 57-66 Osman M. Elamin and Gerald E. Wilcox. 1985. Effect of Magnesium fertilization on yield and leaf composition of tomato plants. J. Pl. Nutr., 8:999-1012. Paiva, E.A.S., Sampaio R.A. and H.E.P. Martinez. 1998. Composition and quality of tomato fruit cultivated in nutrient solutions containing different calcium concentration, J. Pl. Nutr., 21:2653-2661 Piper, C.S. 1966. Soil Chemical Analysis, Prentice Hall of India Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi. pp:102 Schimanski, C. 1981. The influence of certain experimental parameters on the flux characteristics of Mg-28 on the case of barley seedlings grown in hydro culture. Land. Forsch. 34:154-165 Schwartz, S. and B. Bar-Yosef. 1983. Magnesium uptake by tomato plants as affected by Mg and Ca concentration in solution culture and plant age. Agron. J., 75:267-272 Subbiah, B.V. and G. L. Asija. 1956. A rapid procedure for the estimation of available nitrogen in soils. Curr. Sci., 25:259-260 Sundaraja, N., Nagaraju, M.N. Venkataramu and M.K. Jaganath. 1972. Design and analysis of field experiments, U.A.S. and Biostat-I.I.H.R., Bengaluru Usten, N.H., A.L.Yokas and H. Saygili, 2006. Influence of potassium and calcium level on severity of tomato pith necrosis and yield of greenhouse tomatoes. ISHS Acta Hort., 808: 345-350 Voogt, W. 1998. The growth of beefsteak tomato as affected by K/Ca ratios in the nutrient solution. Glasshouse crops Research Station Naaldwijk, The Netherlands Kasinath et al (MS Received 03 October 2014, Revised 29 November 2014, Accepted 03 December 2014) J. Hortl. Sci. Vol. 9(2):179-184, 2014