INFLUENCE OF SUPER ABSORBENT POLYMER AND IRRIGATION INTERVALS ON THE PERFORMANCE OF TWO TOMATO (Solanum lycoperiscum) VARIETIES.

Abstract

Water deficit is one of the most important limiting factors in crop production, it is becoming an increasingly severe problem in many parts of the world. The growth and yield of tomato an important vegetable crop in agricultural economy and one of the most widely consumed vegetable crop in the world is often constrained by water deficit. Irrigation wtervis becoming scarce and costly, hence there is need to find a reliable water management strategy to cope with water scarcity. The addition of water-saving superabsorbent polymer (SAP) in soil can improve soil physical properties, crop growth and yield and also reduce the irrigation requirement of crops. Pot experiment trials were conducted in the Horticultural nursery site of Department of Crop Production, Federal University of Technology, Minna and the nursery site of Ministry of Forestry Buruku, Kaduna to evaluate Influence of Super Absorbent Polymer (SAP) and irrigation intervals on the performance of two tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) varieties during the 2013 dry season. It was a 5 x 4 x 2 factorial experiment laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD) and replicated three times. The treatments were five rates of polymer (0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 g kg-1), four irrigation intervals (daily, 2days, 4days, and 6days intervals) and two tomato varieties (Roma VF and UC82B). Result showed that Roma VF produced taller plants, higher number of fruits and fruit yield than UC82B while the measured parameters were increased with polymer rate of 3g kg-1. Irrigating at 2days interval also had significant effect on the plant height, stem girth, fruit weight and yield. Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that for higher growth and yield of tomato farmers should plant Roma VF with the application of 2g kg-1 or 3g kg-1 polymer into the soil irrigated at 2days intervals.