INFLUENCE OF DIFFERENT NUTRIENT SOURCES ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF TOMATO ( LYCOPERSICON ESCULENTUS MILL.) IN MINNA, NIGERIA

Abstract

Afield trial was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Federal University of Technology, Gidan Kwanu, Minna, which is located in the Southern Guinea Savanna ecological zone of Nigeria, during the 2018 and 2019 cropping seasons. The experiment was a factorial laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design, and replicated three times. The treatments consisted of three tomato genotypes (UC 82 B, Roman savannah and Dan Zaria), and five different nutrient sources { nutrient of interest was nitrogen at the rate of 92 kg N ha which was obtained from each of the sources ; inorganic fertilizer (Urea) , (cow dung poultry dropping and Bio-organic) no nutrient was applied on the control, each plot was measured 3 x4 m (12m2) comprising of five ridges, parameters measured include plant height, number of leaves, stem girth, and number of productive branches at first flower but sight, opening, 50% flowering and at maturity. Fruit diameter was also determined by measuring the fruit with the use of a caliper and fruit length was determined by using a meter rule at harvest. The data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using SAS Statistical package 9.2 at 5% level of probability and means were separated using Duncan Multiple Range (DMRT). Results were presented in tables and the application of 92 kg N ha-1 from poultry manure gave better fruit yield of tomato. The genotype UC 82 B recorded higher number of plant branches at maturity, number of fresh fruit per plant, weight of fresh fruit per plant, fresh fruit diameter and fruit yield. With the result of this study, we therefore recommend to tomato farmers in the zone to apply 92 kg N/ha from poultry manure.