THE RESPONSES OF TOMATO (Solanum lycopersicon L.) GROWTH AND YIELD TO GROUNDNUT SHELL AND OTHER SOURCES OF NUTRIENT

Abstract

The agronomic response of tomato (Solanum lycopersicon L.) to fertilizer application was examined at the screen house of the crop production department, Federal University of Technology Minna. The study was carried out to evaluate the effect of granulated groundnut shells and other sources of nutrients (poultry droppings, burnt groundnut shell, NPK 10:10:10,) on the growth and yield of the tomato plant. The experiment was divided into 5 treatments with 3 replicates each. The treatment consisted of 3 organic nutrient sources (poultry droppings, burnt groundnut shell, and groundnut shell) and 1 inorganic (NPK 10:10:10) source of the nutrient. They were applied at different rates; groundnut shell was applied at the rate of 94.34g per 20kg of soil, burnt groundnut shell was applied at the rate of 161.29g per 20kg of soil, poultry dropping was applied at the rate of 99.01g per 20kg of soil, a mixture of groundnut shell and poultry dropping was also applied (groundnut shell was 47.17+49.50 poultry droppings) = 96.67g per 20kg of soil and NPK 10:10:10 was applied at the rate of 10g per 20kg of soil. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design. Data were collected on morphological parameters including the number of leaves, plant height, stem girth, number of branches, days to first flowering, days to 50% flowering, days to first fruiting, number of fruits, and weight of fruits. These data were collected over a period of 2-10 weeks after transplanting. Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using a statistical analysis system (SAS) package, Means were separated using Duncan's Multiple Range Test (DMRT), and statistical means were tested at a 5% level of significance. The result of the study showed that a mixture of groundnut shells and poultry droppings enhanced the growth and yield of tomatoes more than any other treatment used. Therefore, the application of a mixture of poultry manure and groundnut shell at 96.67g per 20kg of soil is ideal for optimum growth and yield of Tomato plant.