Enhancing nutrient-use efficiency and productivity in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) using blended fertilizers: a review
Keywords:
Balanced nutrition, Micronutrient enrichment, Marketable yield, Nutrient uptakeAbstract
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is a globally vital vegetable crop, yet optimizing its genetic potential for yield and quality is frequently hindered by suboptimal soil fertility management. Conventional blanket applications of straight macronutrient (NPK) fertilizers induce trace element deficiencies, accelerate soil degradation, and trigger low nutrient use efficiency (NUE). Multi-nutrient blended fertilizers incorporating primary, secondary, and micronutrients have emerged as a critical innovation to deliver a balanced nutrient profile. However, a comprehensive synthesis of their interactive mechanisms, optimal formulations, and agro-ecological performance remains fragmented. A systematic narrative review framework was executed by querying dominant digital databases (including Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, and Google Scholar) for peer-reviewed field, greenhouse, and meta-analysis studies spanning from 2000 through mid-2026. Data on tomato growth parameters, yield attributes, NUE indices, and environmental loss metrics were extracted and qualitatively synthesized. The synthesized literature reveals that tailored multi-nutrient blends systematically resolve physiological bottlenecks, expanding leaf area index by 18% to 34% over conventional inputs. By optimizing floral development, reducing fruit abortion rates via boron (B) synergies, and mitigating blossom end rot through calcium (Ca) interactions, multi-nutrient blending drives absolute marketable fruit yield increases ranging from 15% to 42%. Furthermore, balanced fertilization promotes enhanced lateral root architecture and up-regulates root nutrient transporter proteins, elevating agronomic and recovery efficiency while reducing nitrous oxide (N2O emissions and leaching. Transitioning to multi-nutrient blending technologies is a highly viable strategy to simultaneously maximize tomato productivity, improve human dietary health through trace element bio fortification, and reduce environmental footprints. Future research should prioritize long-term soil residual chemistry, nano-formulations, and targeted organo-mineral combinations.
Keywords: Solanum lycopersicum L.; Balanced nutrition; Micronutrient enrichment; Marketable yield; Nutrient uptake.
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