Radiation-modified carrageenan and vermicompost tea improve stress tolerance and yield of tomato under wet cropping season

Reducing the negative impact of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides while meeting the market demand is a desirable practice in tomato cultivation. This study investigated the effects of radiation-modified carrageenan and aerated vermicompost tea on tomato disease tolerance, growth, and yields. The field experiment was conducted during the wet cropping season. Experimental plots measured 4 m × 4 m were arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design with seven treatments and three replicates. The Least Significant Difference test at a 5% level was used. Varying levels of radiation-modified carrageenan were combined with aerated vermicompost tea. The result showed that 40,000 ppm carrageenan+vermicompost tea revealed the lowest disease incidence at 30 days after transplanting, and had the highest survival rate. The 1:1 (v:v) vermicompost tea to water obtained the tallest tomatoes and more primary branches, while the 40,000 ppm carrageenan+vermicompost tea induced an earlier flowering. Optimal performance was achieved with 20,000 ppm carrageenan, the earliest harvest date, the highest total yield, and the highest return on investment. These findings show that radiation-modified carrageenan and aerated vermicompost tea enhanced tomato productivity and can increase farmers’ income as a viable alternative to synthetic inputs.